Health changes planned

Press, 23 March 1988, Page 9

Health changes planned

Changes to . the health system should do (more than i address narrow economic goals, the final graduation from ] ] the Christchurch School of Nursing ‘ ] was told last evening. t Professor Michael: Clinton, chairman of the de- ] partment of horsing studies at Victoria Univerity, i! Wellington, told 48 graduands that many changes Iwere planned for the health system. “All of which may lead to grand designs for changes, in health care and the (role of nurses — it is important that such changes! do more than merely f address narrow economic goals.” Health care and nursing should be made better on their own terms, said Professor Clinton. ; ' 1 An increased emphasis was being placed. on administrative leadership and. cost-effectiveness in the delivery of public services, he said. “However, we should be careful not to apply to health care a rationalist, managerial model ij of change derived exclusively from running commercial ' enterprises ; and quasi-efficient bureaucracies,” he said.' | I: The I 48 nurses i who graduated last evening were from, the final course at the Christchurch School of Nursing, which was closed last year. Nurses'are now trained at polytechnics. Professor Clinton said ; that nurses no longer believed (they were subservient to doctors. Nurses "’continued to complement medical decisions but were increasingly aware of the broader contribution they could make to meeting the demand for better and more ' comprehensive health services, he said. “More than ever before, nurses !are able to make a contribution in their own right to policy-making, the organisation’ and delivery' of health care, health promotion, and the relief of suffering. “It is important that the contribution made by nurses; to these wider aspects of health care delivery is recognised and valued for its own sake, not just as an adjunct to medical interventions, however spectacular they may be.” Professor Clinton said he was concerned about two aspects of the transition from the hospitalbased School of Nursing

to the polytechnic training. I “With the transition to the technical system I wonder whether all. those interested in nursing as a career will have access o the polytechnics.' I- hojje an avenue will be found for people of an underprivileged background £o have access to nursing

training.” o | It was also important that nurses from hospitalbased programmes be treated equally with those from the technical institutes. “It is possible for graduates from technical institutes to be admitted to get a degree of nursing! studies from university

with' credit and they are able to complete a degree in two years.’’ The same I privileges were not ayailalbe to nurses from the hospitalbased programmes. Miss Alison Spark, the nurse who won four of the six awards in the general obstetric programme would not be admitted

: : I: i > ' ! with credit in spite of being an obviously gifted nurse, said Professor Clinton. | ■ J I “That is something I am looking to change,” he said. 11 ’I ■ ' (■ : i j! ■ I The j Christchurch School of Nursing was established in 1891 by the then I! North Canterbury Hospjta! Board. • '