Sheffield Independent – Thursday 23 December 1937

Re-Staffing Plans for Mexborough Hospital
Local Doctors’ Work Ended?
 New Visiting Staff Appointments

The independent Advisory Committee set up to inquire into the dispute at Mexborough Montagu Hospital has made recommendation regarding the re-staffing of the institution.

The Advisory Committee consisted of Mr. Tom Williams, M.P. for Don Valley (chairman), Dr. J. C. Matthews, representing the B.M.A., and Mr. S. Clayton Fryers, nominated by the Board. Their recommendations, it is understood, are

• That the honorary consulting staff be given a cordial invitation to continue in office.
• That advertisements be issued for visiting consulting staff, consisting of two general surgeons, one ophthalmic surgeon, an ear, nose and throat surgeon, an orthopaedic specialist, radiologist, a physician and an obstretrical and gynaecological specialist to work in collaboration with West Riding County Council. It recommended that such appointments be for a five year period, and be then reviewed, and that an age limit of 60 rears be imposed.
• That a resident surgical officer, a house surgeon and a house physician be appointed

Previous Decision

These recommendations agree in effect with the intentions of the Board , expressed when the resignations of the former staff were accepted. At that time it was stated that the Board would appoint specialists for all the services and would build up a modern general hospital service instead of the previous cottage hospital type.

Since a resident Surgical Officer ready been appointed, it remains for all the other posts to be advertised.

Applications for the posts will be received bv l January, and these, with applications received earlier, will be considered at a Board meeting on 4 January

No Comment Yet

It is understood that the report was considered by the Board at a meeting this week, but no statement was given and Mr. Drake, interviewed yesterday said that the Board had no comment to make on the situation until such time as.the whole matter was cleared up.

This decision means that t 3 local practitioners, who have boon accustomed in the past to treating their own in hospital and who have done large amount of operative worfc, will not able to continue their duties there under the new staffing arrangements.

The report was majority decision.

A covering note from Mr. Tom Williams explained that the Committee was unanimous in its findings at the last meeting, but since then he had receive a communication from Dr. Matthews to the effect that he dissented on certain points.

Doctor S Views

The B.M.A. representative held that the elimination local practitioner surgeons was net advisable and that they should allowed treat their own patients in hospital, in collaboration with the resident Surgical Officer.

When the inquiry was suggested by the B.M.A it was stated that its findings would binding upon all parties concerned.

Local doctors, however, declared at the outset that they were not party to the agreement, and they pretested that the inquiry was not independent, in that Mr. Williams, its chairman, was a member the Board.

Mr. Williams it is an ex officio member of the Board as M.P. for the Division. The B.M.A. agreed to his chairmanship’ and to the constitution of the inquiry generally. A

Doctors’ Plans

The inquiry had to deal chiefly with two subjects re staffing and internal administration at the hospital. The flrst part has been completed and the second part the inquiry will resumed 18 January.

The local doctors have not received official communication of the report but it has become known to them, and they called meeting last night to determine Ihelr future plans.

“No Goodwill”

Following the meeting of the doctors last night following statement was issued by their secretary. Ur. J. A. H. Lee:

“The recommendations of the majority report are practically the scheme that the Board had been considering for some time for reorganisation of the staff.

“The doctors criticise this scheme because it rejects local doctors who have been performing major operations of all types for 16 or 20 years.

“Naturally, they have benefited by this large experience, and to replace them are three residents who may not have had the necessary experience but will take the posts probably to gain experience. The local surgeons have had the confidence of the doctors the district as well as the patients.

“As result of this change there will definitely be no feeling of goodwill between local doctors and the Management Board and staff at the hospital.”