RESIDENT DOCTOR

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 109, 25 May 1937, Page 6

RESIDENT DOCTOR

#■ 1 111 " Appointment to Memorial Hospital BOARD'S DECISION Dr. W. Reeve, of Havelock North, was yeftterday appointed resident medical offlcer at the Hastings Fallen Sol ftiers' Memorial Hospital. Since the inception of the institution the medical service has been carried dli by the members of the honorary medical staff, whose splendid services have been fre' quently given at a sacrifice and an ^inconvenience. In making the appoint. nr.ent, the Hawke's Bay Hospital Board placed on record its high appreciation of the valued services given by the honcraty staff. Tributes were paid in which it was stated that the public had little conception of the great amount oi work carried out by the members oi the honorary staff, who had maintained an excellent medical service that was worthy of the institution. The Hastings General Purposes Com taittee, in its report to the board, suggested that the time was opportune to combine the service® of the various members of the honorary staff and to appoint a resident house surgeon. It was stated that the honorary staff was in favour of this proposal and that the medical superintendent had voiced hia approval of it. Mr C. Lassen, chairman, in paying § \ tribute to the. honorary staff. said that they had carried on the medical service to an extent which the public little realised. Among other things they had taken turns in giviug up their Sun days so aa to be avaalable if called upon. The chairman theii moved that a letter should be sent to ihe honorary staff expressing. the board 's appreciation of the splendid manner in which they had carried out the medical services at the Memorial Hospital. In seconding the motion, Mr H. "V. Hoadley said that the grateful thanks of the board and of the public wero due to the honorary staff for the xnosr efficient service they had carried on. Dr. J. Allan Berry, iu Supporting the appointment, said that the idea of a stipendiary staff *was rather against the principles that were held in connection with .the hospital. "It is nice to know ihat we have Dr. Berry's approval," said Mr Hoadley, amid laughter. Mr C. Duff said that a great debt was owing to the members of the honorary staff. The board and the public had derived a great .benefit from the unstinted time that had been given in the carrying on of the medical service. Board members would be pleased to; know that Dr. Reeve was working in: the utmost harmony with the medical superintendent, the honorary staff and the nursing staff. The board was fortunate in seeuring the services of a man like Dr. Reeve, who would fill the position ■ withi credit both to himself and to the board. A ifine acknowledgment of the services of the honorary staff was paid by the medical superintendent, Dr. J. J. "Foley, who said that of Jthe thousands of cases that they had handled not a complaint had been received. The doctors had devoted a great deal of time to the services they had given, aud it liad been largelv due to their excellent work that it had been possible to run the liospital. Dr. Foley said that he had always been slightly afraid of a position arising when none of the honorary staff would .be available, but that feav had proved baueless. He was pleased at the appointment made, and with- the services of the honorary staff, which would still be available, the hospital would be parti eularly well served. The chairman 's motion was_ then put and carried unanimously.