HOSPITAL NEWS IN BRIEF

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27592, 24 February 1955, Page 6

HOSPITAL NEWS IN BRIEF

GROUP TRAINING IN NURSING

A group nursing training scheme prepared by the Lady Superintendent at the Christchurch Hospital (Mrs M. Chambers) has been adopted by the North Canterbury Hospital Board. The scheme will cover the Christchurch, Burwood and Cashmere Hospitals. Mrs Chambers has recommended that the board should adopt a policy of a central preliminary training school for these three hospitals, with nurses living at the institution to which they are to belong, until it is possible to run separate preliminary training schools at each nospital. The hospital committee reported at a meeting of the board yesterday that the first step in the adoption of the training scheme as it affected Burwood would be taken when eight nurses from the Christchurch Hospital would begin duty in the plastic unit at Burwood on March 14.

Burwood Buses.—The Christchurch Transport Board has advised the Hospital Board that there is insufficient patronage to warrant the introduction of a service between Christchurch and the Burwood Hospital, unless it is subsidised by the Hospital Board.

Anaesthetic Department.—A properly constituted anaesthetic department is to be established at the Christchurch Hospital, as recommended by the Health Department’s Director of Anaesthesia. He recommended that the staff could consist of a full-time director, two fulltime registrars, of third-year status (one of whom might be of junior specialist status), and one anaesthetic house surgeon, with the rest of the staff, at present, stipendiary. A motion that the proposal be referred back to the board’s hospital committee was lost.

Pathology Laboratory.—The hospital committee reported that the desirability of reopening the pathology laboratory at the Burwood Hospital, with a technician of some considerable experience, had been raised by Mr J. J. Brownlee. The committee favoured the proposal, and it would be discussed with the Director of Pathology. New Ambulances.—The St. John Ambulance Association has informed the board that firm orders have been placed for two new ambulances. Extensions at Burwood.—The building committee reported that the plumbing and electrical work on the new 60-bed ward unit at Burwood was well forward, the building had been covered in. and the roof completed. Pasteurised Milk.—The board adopted the report of its public health committee, which recommended that the board should support the policy of the Department of Health on the use of pasteurised milk to eliminate the risk of undulant fever and many cases of non-pulmonary tuberculosis.

Nurses’ Recreation HalL—The board decided to subsidise from its trust funds the amount raised by the nursing staff towards the erection of a nurses recreation hall. In the preliminary capital proposals for 1955-56,

£5OOO has been listed for this purpose. Hospital Lifts.—The installation of a new lift to Wards 9. 10, and 11 at the Christchurch Hospital will begin soon. The present lift will be out of commission for some months. It has been decided to continue to use the two upstairs wards, patients to be moved by stretchers up and down the stairs. Itangiora Hospital.—A public opening ceremony will be held at the Rangiora Hospital on March 4 to mark the completion of alterations and additions to the building.