Nurse courses scheme meets criticism

Press, 15 August 1978, Page 6

Nurse courses scheme meets criticism

Plans to set up New Zea-; land's first programme of-post-basic nursing education i at four technical institutes; by 1980, were criticised! I yesterday at a meeting of the Institutions Committee! of the North Canterbury! Hospital Board. Cabinet approval for the new courses was given last! month. They will be financed from the Education vote and will result in a substantia' saving of Health ' finance. Two courses will ■begin next rear and the rest' in 1980. The medical superinten- j dent-in-chief for the hospital - board (Dr L. McH. Berry); said that the decision for the; new courses caused him .“grave concern.” and that it; ‘had been made without prior! consultation. Dr Berry said he did not! ■believe that post-basic clini-i cal education should take; place away from hospitals. I Miss Brenda Brankin,.

I principal nursing officer for ! | the board, said that the s i Nurses’ Association had ac-i (cepted the principle of the! I new courses two years ago. ; Some feelings of appre-j (hension were bound to sur-i ! face because of what some! ■ hospital nursing tutors! might consider as a threat! Ito their posts she said. Mrs .June Gardiner, chairman of the committee, said; .ithat the Cabinet decision seemed to be a fait ac.comjpli. ' The board's chairman (Mr; T. C. Grigg) said the Hospi- ■ ■|tal Board's Association had I i told the Minister of Health! '; (Mr Gill) early this year of I possible problems which the! : ! new technical institute; I courses might cause. The hospital board will; | send representatives to a| ; meeting with tutors at the ; | Christchurch Technical In-; : stitute on August 23, to disIcuss the implications of the; inew courses.