HOSPITAL NURSES.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 227, 22 September 1920, Page 8

HOSPITAL NURSES.

HOURS AND CONDITIONS. TRAINING OF PROBATIONERS.

Tho condition under -which nurses in public hospitals are working were considered by the Auckland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board last evening. The subject was introduced in a letter from the Inspector-General of Hospitals, Dr. T. H. A. Valintine, in which the doctor considered the conditions of nurses in the hospitals should be modified so as to allow of a working week of six days only, i.e., a clear day ott' each week, and a minimum annual holiday of 21 days. Hi> eaid that public as well as departmental opinion was strongly impressed with the necessity for the one day's complete rest in sevgn, and there was no doubt that institutions must make provision accordingly. He asked the Board to consider carefully the two proposals made and to answer the following questions: (1) The number by which the staff would have to be increased to allow of the proposals being carried out; (2) the nature of the extra accommodation ■which would have to be provided; (3) the earliest possible date on which the proposed changes could take place. The chairman (Mr. W. Wallace) explained that the Board had already decided to give the nurses one full day off in each week, but could not give effect to the decision until tho necessarybuilding accommodation had been obtained. He estimated that after consultation with the lady superintendent, that thirty more nurses would be required to enable the suggested holidays to be given. At present the Board wag. unable to accommodate vseventy nurses in the Nurses' Home. These nurses were accommodated elsewhere in the hospital grounds, and the Board therefore had to build suitable accommodaflon for them before it could do any other building. This was being delayed tlnrougjli the impossibility, of getting the necessary finance from the Government. It was decided to reply to the InspectorGeneral in the terms of the chairman's Statement. In reply to a further question by Dr. Valintine, the chairman eaid the Board had no shortage of probationers, and tliere were at present seven on the waiting list. No difficulty -was anticipated in securing probationers in the future, and he did not favour having immijrraats. I.t iras decided to reply accord%%ft* _________