‘Poor use’ of nurses

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34130, 17 April 1976, Page 20

‘Poor use’ of nurses

New Zealand nurses H lare not being used to ad-1 according to an c {American public health expert. |< Professor T. L. Hall, ofj I the University of North j ‘Carolina’s school of public jt -health, said yesterday. “New;; Zealand has a very good't ratio of nurses to doctors,! but too many of them are | ! inactive.” , j ; Nurses should be dis-!! tributed more evenly round < the country, more going to!' country health-care centres rather than to large cities,! i he said. ■< ‘ “More nurses should beh helping general practitioners I in the small towns.” He suggested that retired j nurses should be induced! (“back into the system”. ■; ! Too many were leaving the country to continue their i ! studies. Although they might ,i have intended to " return,! imany were not coming back ! ! after being offered attractive . jobs overseas or after mar-1 iriage to spouses who did not!' want to come to New Zea-ii land. j Although a balance was 'maintained by foreign doc-i {tors taking their place, these!, , docLors had vol been warned!

in New Zealand, and were less familiar with the wav of life. y Professor Hall said that subsidies for study leave should be given to doctors so that they could gain experience overseas and continue their education, but the subsidy would be granted only on condition that they return. "I am very pleased to see that more women are entering medicine,” said Professor Hall. “My wife is a physician, and we met at medical school”. Now that there are improved facilities for looking after children and women are able to plan their families, a woman doctor no longer had to give up her job if she married. Professor Hall will attend a planning conference at Wairakei on Monday, to discuss medical manpower needs in New Zealand. f ®?K C n r ’7 _Rcsults of English foothall league matches plated. —Division 1: Arsenal 2. Wolternampton 1; Birmingham 3, Ipswich 0; Coventry 1. Aston x- 1 i !>' . Dlv| sion 2 Bolton 1, ?. ork , 2 - County 0. Notts rorest 0; Portsmouth 2, Orient I Division 3: Crystal Palace I. ttalifax 1; Gillingham 1. South ss* . Shr *"’sburv n, Sheffield \\ ednebday 0.