HOSPITAL REFORMS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 101, 29 April 1910, Page 6

HOSPITAL REFORMS.

iTo the Editor.) Sir, —I have heard and read a lot lately about the reforms and economies to be practised in the management of the Auckland Hospital. There is one branch which has been entirely overlooked, and in its way is every bit as important as | any other. I refer to a staff of women employed to clean the wards, some of which, according to medical men, are highly infectious. There is no provision made for the disinfection of the-se people,: and they are allowed to go at large, perhaps with the germs of disease about them. Perhaps the authorities have an ' eye to future patients. These servants have to reach the hospital by six sharp in the morning, and work in the wards four solid hours every day, with a short interval for breakfast, and all they receive for this arduous toil, and the risfe to their health, is 15/ per week. The breakfast sometimes consists of an assortment of tough meat, rejoicing in the name of Irish stew, and warmed up, nearly cold tea. Another morning a little bit of fish, with, in some cases, ready spread bread and butter. They never have a fresh cup of tea. On a. certain occasion the servants of the " nurses' home" struck work on account of various grievances. Owing to this defection on the part of the girls, the usual morning employees had each to work six consecutive hours, unless the miserable meal can be called a break. They know the conditions to be unjust, but owing to their sex, were naturally timid about taxing the stern authorities with their wrongs. It is a disgrace that a, big instiUition like the Auckland Hospital, kept up by the people's money, should cut things so fine, and grind down defenceless women, while ceaseless waste has been going on in other departments. —I am. etcTOILER.