DISMISSAL OF NURSES

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21334, 29 November 1934, Page 10

DISMISSAL OF NURSES

DISCUSSION BY HOSPITAL BOARD KKCI'LATIONS TO BE MADE The dismissal of the five probationer nurses after two months" training at (he Christchurch Public Hospital was discussed at the monthly meeting of the North Canterbury Hospital Board yesterday. It was decided to refer the questions to which the action has given rise to the committee which is engaged on the redrafting of the hospital regulations. Mr W. J. Walter, who introduced the subject, said that the reference in the report of the hospital committee took no note of one aspect of the case, the big expense to which these persons had been put, especially for tne purchase of uniforms. He understood that the amount was about 10 guineas, and suggested that as they had been at the hospital for only two months the board might make an allowance, perhaps of half the sum. The report stated: — "Recently the probationary period of live young women was terminated as they were not regarded as being suitable. Some of these ladies made a claim for the expenses to which they had been put owing to the fact that they believed the appointment was for a definite period of three months. "It is made clear always that the three months refers to a probationary period which is terminable at any time should the person affected prove unlikely to be successful in the nursing profession. The committee is taking no action with regard to these matters."

Mrs T. Green urged that further enquiry should be made into the matter. Something should be done to provide uniforms for the first three months. Mrs Green .said she did not know whether the girls were classed as trainees or probationers, but the fact remained that they had suffered considerable loss, and one letter she had received from Invercargill indicated that great distress had been caused in one instance l*y the dismissal. "A Matter of Principle" "This must be taken up as a matter of principle," said Mr Archer. "We cannot legislate for four or five at a time, no matter how sympathetic we may be." Mr Archer then moved that the whole question be referred to the committee which is engaged on redrafting the regulations of the hospital. The chairman, Mr H. J. Otley, said that the girls were only on trial: they had to provide their first uniform, and they had three, months in which to demonstrate their aptitude for the work. They were not ungenerously treated by the board: they received training, were boarded and received a certain wage. Mr Walter asked the amount of the wage, which he described as very small, later interjecting that it was 7s 6d a week.

Mrs Green stated that the rule provided definitely for a three months' probationary period. In reply to Mr A. T. Smith, who said that if the uniforms cost 10 guineas as stated, there must be a lot of "frills and 'furbelows" about them, it was stated that the matron estimated the cost of the uniform at £6. The rest of the expense was for travelling. Mrs Bean said that all the clothing was not wasted; it could be used. Mr J. S. Barnett was of the opinion that there was some room for reform in the direction of standardisation, the uniforms being at the present time different for different hospitals. After the chairman had remarked that the board supplied uniforms to nurses in their second year, Mr Archer's motion was carried and the report of the hospital committee adopted-