DOING ALL POSSIBLE

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 70, 15 December 1933, Page 3

DOING ALL POSSIBLE

Preventing Tuberculosis RISK RUN BY NURSES Dominion Special Service. Dunedin, December 14. Regarding the statement by Mr. F. Jones (Dunedin South) in the House of Representatives that there was a high percentage of tuberculosis among hospital nurses, Drs. Thomson and Lytli, of the Dunedin institutions, said there was nothing to be alarmed about although continuous vigilance must alwavs be exercised. “We are taking every step we know of to prevent the disease,” they said. “It is a matter constantly in our minds. We agree with the Minister that infection of nurses is an occupational risk, and we think that the time is bound to come when the liability of infection will be provided for by special insurance.” Drs. Thomson and Lytli said they were safe in saying that Otago did not compare unfavourably with other countries and other parts of New Zealand. Investigation had proved that in the sanatoria the incidence of disease among nurses was very low. The diiiiImlty in such investigation was that they did not know how many nurses formerly had tuberculosis, but nurses now appeared to be getting it earlier in their training. However, the tuberculosis rate was falling generally, and in the last few years the death rate m New Zealand had fallen rapidly.

POSITION IN WELLINGTON

The reference macle recently by the Minister of Health concerning the incidence of tuberculosis among hospital nurses, was the subject of mention at last night’s meeting of the Wellington Hospital Board by the chairman, Mr. F. Castle, who said that he had been informed by Dr. H. Bayldon Ewen, medical superintendent, that tuberculosis was not prominent among the board’s staff, the health of which stood very high as compared with other hospitals in the Dominion, mittee would report to the by-laws committee on the action taken in connection with the applications. • ♦ # Last evening's meeting was the last until after the holiday recess. The next meeting will b§ on February 15.