Nurses’ Meals

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31862, 14 December 1968, Page 12

Nurses’ Meals

Sir,—Mr Procter appears to have forgotten that another mental hospital exists in Christchurch. Nursing staff at this hospital are required to work, quite regularly, extension to “B” shift, 7 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. The extensions to 7.30 p.m. and sometimes 8 p.m. occur on an average three times a two-weekly shift period. It is therefore not uncommon for a nurse to work such extensions four or sometimes five times a shift. Similar overtime occurs on the other day shift, “C,” 8.30 a.m. to 5 p.m., with ex-

tensions to 7.30 p.m. and 8 p.m. In this case they occur much more frequently. All overtime is necessary for the good running of the hospitals. Because of these long hours nurses have enjoyed meals at the reduced rate. Mr Procter refers to crib meals. Usually cribbed from the patients’ meals, these meals are subject to continuous complaints. It is known that at last one hospital only supplies sandwiches. Yes, the 4 per cent is only interim, and therefore it is a 1 per cent burden meantime. Yours, etc., BIG DEAL. December 10. 1968. [Mr L. C. Procter, secretary of Sunnyside Hospital, replies: “The only additional comment I wish to make is: however often extensions to shifts are worked, staff are entitled to a free meal in the circumstances stated by ‘Big Deal.’ I cannot remark on arrangements at another hospital, but this is a right staff have, and I am sure a meal would be available. 1 do not refer to crib meals.”] [This correspondence is now closed.—Ed., “The Press.”]