Reports, papers and submissions., 1970s-1980s

The records of the New Zealand Medical Association, Auckland Division, were donated to the Special Collections section of the University of Auckland Library in October 2004. They arrived in cartons, folders and brown paper parcels secured with string, with a preliminary Inventory created by Special Collections Manager, Stephen Innes. The collection is arranged in 10 Series and covers the 74-year period from 1919 to 1993. Included are minutes, correspondence, financial records, publications and reports. The minutes of various committees and entities make up Series 1 and include those of the British Medical Association, New Zealand Branch, Auckland Division , NZMA Executive, Representative Body, Council, Emergency Night Medical Services, and NZMA Quarterly meetings. Noticeable is the variation in names of the earliest committees, which reflects the evolving process of establishment and change: from British Medical Association parentage to an independent New Zealand entity.

Series 2 contains a wide range of inwards and outwards correspondence pertaining to the NZMA. Included is that of the Central office, Honorary Secretary, Auckland Hospital Board and Department of Health. Annotations on other correspondence indicate the suitability of particular letters for inclusion in NZMA periodicals. Other groupings concern correspondence in the form of complaints about doctor’s fees, Ethical Committee matters and Disciplinary Committee cases. Material generated by the NZMA’s Assembly Meetings and Annual General Meetings during the period 1990-1994 comprises Series 3. The Ernest and Marion Davis Library at Auckland Hospital, often simply termed the Marion Davis Library in these papers, was the main venue for these meetings. Included in this Series are attendance and roll call lists, agendas, minutes, correspondence, and financial statements.

Urgent Care, an after-hours accident and medical service, is covered in Series 4, comprising minutes, correspondence, financial records, complaints, and reports. These show the historical development of this type of care in Auckland from the 1970s to the 1990s, and the sometimes uneasy relationship between the NZMA and Urgent Medical Services Limited (UMS).

Series 5 comprises papers pertaining to new initiatives by doctors in the Auckland region in the 1980s and 1990s. The intention was to improve the way doctors were regarded in the community and to address the challenge of competition. A marketing programme for general practitioners was proposed which resulted in the formation of the Passport to Health committee. Some key figures in this appear to have been Drs I R N McCormick, Noel Roydhouse and Chris Boberg. They oversaw a publicity and marketing campaign for doctors that incorporated television, video, radio, posters and health forums. Included in this Series is a set of files termed ‘Collected Papers / I R McCormick’. These complement other similar files in the Series.

Two biennial NZMA conferences comprise Series 6: the first in Christchurch in April, 1979 and the second in Auckland in April, 1981. Included are correspondence, reports, address and contact lists, conference minutes, programme and newsletters

Series 7 contains material regarding the NZMA Centennial Meeting held in May 1987 to celebrate 100 years of the Association’s existence. Included is a photograph album, from which acidic material has been removed and photographed, photographic contact sheets, a handbook, registration form, order of service, and note.

Financial records of the NZMA for the 1970s to the 1990s are found in Series 8 and include a cash book, statements, accounts, financial correspondence, and cheque and deposit books.

Reports, papers and submissions of various types are found in Series 9 and include Medical Council of New Zealand publications and reports on medical manpower, a committee of inquiry at Oakley Hospital, and regional planning. NZMA publications make up the bulk of Series 10 and mainly comprise various forms of the BMA and NZMA (Auckland Division) Newsletter from 1966 to 1985. Also included are The Newslink, News and Views, doc brief,and Med-Comm : NZMA Auckland Regional Newsletter, with loose editorial pages. This Series also incorporates issues of New Zealand Doctor which, although not published by the NZMA, conveys news and comment from the Auckland Division.

Abbreviations

ACC Accident Compensation Corporation

AGM Annual General Meeting

BMA British Medical Association

EC Ethical Committee

GMS General Medical Services Benefit

NZMA New Zealand Medical Association

NZMJ New Zealand Medical Journal

SAPS Special Arrangement for Paediatric Services

TMA The Medical Association

TMANZ The Medical Association of New Zealand

TNZMA The New Zealand Medical Association

UMS Urgent Medical Services