Nursing heads criticised

Press, 18 January 1979, Page 4

Nursing heads criticised

The Nursing Division of the Department of Health Has criticised yesterday for its “autocratic and pinpricking attitude.” During discussion on thanges in staff structure proposed for senior nurses, the medical sunerintendent-In-chief of the North Canterbury Hospital Board (Dr L. McH. Berry) said in a letter

to the board’s chief executive (Mr R. L Parker) that the Nursing Division was too strictly controlled and inflexible.

“Nurses in Wellington know a lot less than the nursing people we have here," Dr Berry said. The chairman of the board (Mr T. C. Grigg) urged the committee to recognise the importance of consultation on the proposed changes.

"I would be concerned if there was too much publicity about these criticisms," he said.

Dr Berry’s letter was read in the open section of the committee meeting, but the chairman of the committee (Mrs L. C. Gardiner) asked that it not be reported.

Subsequent attempts to have the text of Dr Berry’s criticisms reported in full were rebuffed, as the com-

mittee considered that these should not be made public. The board’s chief nursing officer (Miss B. C. Brankin) said in her report on the proposed changes that after consideration of comments from principal nurses at the Essex, Burwood, Princess Margaret, Templeton, and Sunnyside hospitals she believed they did not feel the changes were in the best interests of their hospitals.