A HOSPITAL BREEZE.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 January 1916, Page 5

A HOSPITAL BREEZE.

QUAINT MANAGEMENT AT TIMARU. BOARD AND STAFF DISAGREE. By Telegraph.—P«ss Association, Tlmaru, Last Night. A difference between the Hospital Board and ;the honorary medical staff came To a head to-day. Some time ago the Board set up a committee to enquire into the way that the store book had boon kept, and the committee found that tlie matron had been somewhat careless in making entries. The honorary staff, seizing gomo expressions that had been made use of, interpreted these as a reflection on the matron's honesty, and the matron herself, through a solicitor, asked for further enquiry. On this being refused by the Board, as unnecessary, !the honorary staff and ail other medical inert in the town signed a letter to the Board, demanding an inquiry, and on this being refused the honorary stuff resigned, together with all others also signing this letter. Tliey then asked Dr. Valiniine, InspectorGeneral, to visit Timaru and conduct an inquiry. Dr. Valintine haß consented, but said that he could not come before the end of the month. On receipt of this reply the doctors wrote to the Board, asking leave to withhold their resignations in the meantime.

The Board to-day questioned the right of tlie Inspector-General to interfere, and by eight votes to three resolved to accept the resignation of the honorary staff, the resident surgeon to make the best arrangements he can for assistance in operations until the Board can secure a permanent assistant resident (who may he allowed outside practice). Dr. Loughnan, late of tho honorary staff, is also an elected member of the Board, and he took part in the discussion, urging tlie right of the matron for further inquiry and supporting the doctors in their action, but he did not vote. In the course of discussion some members of the Board indicated that they had a grievance against the honorary staff and other outside doctors, in that they sent to hospital no patients who could pay them, and therefore the patients' payments were a small item of revenue.