HOSPITAL DOCTORS

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 58, Issue 216, 12 October 1929, Page 5

HOSPITAL DOCTORS

Per Press Association.

GENERAL DOMINION SHORTAGE. THE CAUSE OF THE POSITION.

WELLINGTON, Last night. Probably never in the history of New Zealand has there been such an eager demand for house surgeons on the part of hosoitals throughout tlie Dominion as there is at present. Mr O. M. Luke, chainnan of the Hospital Board, said to-day the Wellington board had already put in its claim for three or four house surgeons to the Otago University authorities at Dunedin. There was always a number of yonng men who conclude the course at the end of eacli year, but though the number of those who are in for the final examination is known, it is never lcnown how many will get through, for until they get their degree they are not available for appointment to a hospital. So the position is that if a good many students get through at the end of the year it will be good news to every hospital, as Wellington is b.y no means the worst off board in the country. "All we can do," said Mr Luke, '"is to put in our applicatioli for as many house sqrgeons as we want, and hope for the best. We could do with three or four right away, but as we cannot get them we have to get along as best we can without them. "I will say this, . however," added the chairman, "that I do not think this shortage will occur again. You see it was caused years ago by Parliament deciding to extend the course a year. This has thrown everything out, and "this is the year the hospitals are being made to feel the pinch, but hereafter the thing will re-adjust itself all right — at least we are hoping it will. It just goes to show that the supply and demand for doctors in this country is pretty well halanced." _