TROUBLE IN THE HOSPITAL

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 107, 4 May 1912, Page 5

TROUBLE IN THE HOSPITAL

WHOLESALE RESIGNATIONS. s ~ AMONGST THE NURSING STAFF. • A SERIOUS POSITION. For some time past trouble has been brewing amongst the nursing staff of the Auckland Hospital, and a climax has been reached in the ousting of the late Chairman, Mr P. M. Mackay, and the consequent resignation of the deputy lady superintendent, and practically all the heads of nursing departments, including the night superintendent, 14 ward sisters, the theatre sister, and four staff nurses. The trouble lias arisen as the result of frequent disagreements between the matron and her staff, which consists of over 100 nurses. At various meetings of the Hospital Board, matters affecting the administration and discipline of the institution have frequently been before members, and the position has steadily ■become more acute. Recently it was reported to the Board that the matron had suspended a number of sisters and nurses, and it became evident that something would speedily have to be done if the affairs of the Hospital were not to be thrown into a chaotic state because of internal strife so far as the nursing staff was concerned. The position was therefore made an issue in connection with the election of the Chairman of the Board last Tuesday evening. It was known that the Chairman and four members of the Board were prepared to take action in one particular direction, and that the other five members of the Board had placed their sympathies in opposition to the Chairman. The Board was, therefore, equally divided, and when Messrs Mackay and Schofield were nominated by the opposing factions on the Board, there were five votes pledged to each candidate. Accordingly their names were placed in a hat, and that of Mr Schofield was the first drawn. The displacement of Mr Mackay means that the action which some of the members of the. nursing staff were anticipating, is not to be carried out. and accordingly these wholesale resignations have been placed in the hands of the Board. The trouble became so acute last month that the Hon. G. W. Russell. Minister in Charge of Hospitals, went very fully into the matter while he was in Auckland. His interest in the position that has arisen is indicated by the following telegram, sent yesterday to Mr. Mackay: "Regret that you have not been re-elected to the position of chairman, but sincerely hope that your ability, energy. and tact will assist in brineing about an earlY settlement on a satisfactory basis of the trouble that seems to overhang the Institution. — W. Russell." The matter will come before the Board "t, its next meeting, when the following letter will be considered: "We. the undersigned members of the Auckland hospital nursing staff, respectfully desire to draw the attention of the Board to the fact that we cannot with justice, either to the institution or ourselves, continue to carry on our duties under the management of the present lady superintendent." The 20 signatures to this communicationrepresent practically the whole of the senior responsible officers of the institution, and include nurses who have had wide experience in England, Australia. n-nA all parts of the Dominion. It is also understood; that many members of the nursing staff eery-rally are Rimnortine their wird sisters in the attitude they are taking. «—■. ■ ■■