PREPARING FOOD IN HOSPITALS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 65, Issue 268, 23 August 1945, Page 2

PREPARING FOOD IN HOSPITALS.

“ALMOST A NIGHTMARE.” (P.A.) WELLINGTON, August 22. Addressing the annual conference of the New Zealand Dietetic Association ’Miss M. B. McKenzie, head dietitian lat the Wellington Hospital and president of the association, said that through lack of domestic staff the preparation of food for patients had been almost a nightmare. Unless something •was done to relieve the domestic staff situation the future was not hopeful. , Miss M. I. Lambiei director of the nursing division of the Department of Health, suggested a conference among dietitians, the nursing staff, and the unions concerned to try to reach a plan. Any conclusions on the subject from such a conference would be received by her department with much interest. With increasing industrialisation, she could'not see the prospect of relief numerically. The direction for work in hospitals had not been satisfactory. It was much better to have voluntary labour. She suggested a scheme which might include a period of training in hospitals for, say, six months, but for this it would be necessary to have the cooperation and support of the Hospital Board. Miss McKenzie paid a tribute to the small band of willing workers wlio had assisted, some of them for five to seven years, but said there must he a permanent staff, not only permanent but skilled.