HOUSE SURGEONS

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 246, 16 September 1929, Page 6

HOUSE SURGEONS

difficulty at hospitals. APPLICATIONS TO AUSTRALIA. An indication that the Department of Health did not regard favourably the suggestion to apply in Austia for house surgeons to fill the shortage stated to exist in New Zealand was given to the Palmerston North Hospi tai Board at its monthly meeting, 0 day, when official advice was received in connection with the matter. The local board recently wrote to the Director-General of Health P 01 . n “" ing out that the institution was being carried on with two house surgeons with an average number of over iou patients. Last year, four house surgeons were employed. The board sought his vice on the question, both those employed at Palmerston North being ladies, and it was suggested that possibly house surgeons could be secured from Australia. . „ “I may say that I have been in communication with. Sir Lindo Ferguson, Dean of the Otago Medical School, with regard to the question or house surgeons,” wrote the Director-Genera of Health in reply. “Sir Dindo Ferguson holds out no hope of there being more than thirty young doctois qualifying at the forthcoming final examination in December. Hie lack o house surgeons has been a considerab embarrassment to hospital boards throughout the Dominion. JNevertneless, 1 am extremely reluctant to advise that applications should be made in Australia or elsewhere for house surgeons. ... . “There are some hospitals with less claim than yours which have a larger number of house surgeons than your board possesses. I hope to take an early opportunity of discussing the matter with the hospital boards. There is no doubt that something will have to be done in the matter.” Mr Maneford: Is there any reason why there is reluctance against trying in Australia? The managing-secretary (Mr A. J. Phillipps): I can hazard a _ guess. When their hospital term is finished it is difficult to settle them m a practice in New Zealand. Mr Mansford: That is their business if they come here and are prepared to accept the conditions. ~ . The chairman (Mr J. K. Hornb ow) did not consider that there would be much inducement for Australian house surgeons to come to New Zealand. It was decided to hold the matter over until further information was received from Dr. Valintme.