Unclear policy ‘delays plans’

Press, 25 February 1977, Page 9

Unclear policy ‘delays plans’

Alterations and planning at! ;the Christchurch Hospital; i School of Nursing were impeded because the Governiment’s policy on nursing training was not clear, the 'North Canterbury Hospital Board has been told. Dr W. J. Pryor said it appeared that the Department of Health wanted to concentrate nursing training in technical institutes and take the task away from, at least, the Christchurch Hospital School of Nursing. “It is the hospital board’s! responsibility to train nurses! to work in the hospital. If the! Government phases out the School of Nursing, we will notl ! be able to do this.” ; There seemed to be a pol-l icy afoot to get trainee doctors into hospitals at an ear-. •■Her stage in their training,! land trainee nurses out. he> (said.

Miss D. M. Newman, principal murse with the board.

said that the issue was vast, and that the Nurses Association supported the change to institute training. Half of the new curriculum at technical institutes involved clinical and practical work with patients in the hospital or in the community. Some nurses were in hospitals from their second dav at the courses, working closely with hospital nurses.

“However, if we have to lose tiie School of Nursing, we should seek to have it upgraded to the last minute,” she said.

A delegation from the , board will meet officials of the Department of Health, probably in March, to find out the Government’s policy on nursing training.

Earlier the board was told 'that administration at the school was becoming a nightmare. and rooms were cramped and poorly ventilated.