HOSPITAL CHANGES

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20957, 9 November 1939, Page 6

HOSPITAL CHANGES

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF DR. GRAHAM’S NEW POSITION MADE DIRECTOR OF SURGERY With the need for the appointment of a superintendent for the Waikato Hospital, following the recent death of Dr. M. M. Hockin, who was medical superintendent for the past 11 years, a new administrative policy has been adopted by the Waikato Hospital Board. Details were advanced at the meeting of the board to-day. Mainly because of the ever-growing nature of the institution, the Director-General of Health, Dr. M. H. Watt, recommended to the board that the duties of the superintendent should be merely those of supervision, and he should not be expected to undertake medical or surgical duties as well. The board decided, therefore, that the duties of a new superintendent should be administrative only, and that all routine clinical work would be performed by other members of the staff. The salary for the superintendent was fixed by the board at £IOOO a year, on the advice of experts. Applications will be called for the position. In view of the fact that the superintendent’s duties will be administrative only, the board appointed Dr. R. S. A. Graham, who has been acting medical superintendent, to the position of Director of Surgery. His salary, as from October 31 last, will be increased by £l5O a year. The salaries of Doctors W. M. Porteous, E. L. Wilson, and D. Price were increased by £IOO a year, as from October 31 last. Reference to Dr. Hockin In placing on record the board’s appreciation of the valuable services of the late Dr. Hockin, the board expressed sympathy with the family of the late superintendent. “Dr. Hockin was sitting here with us at our last meeting, when we welcomed him back after his illness,” said the chairman of the board, Mr F. Findlay. “Little did we realise that four days later he would be called away. “I feel that his life spoke for itself,” added Mr Findlay. “All his actions were for the good of manKind and the sick and suffering.” The board members stood in silence for a moment.