NOT PRACTICABLE AT PRESENT

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 207, 29 May 1936, Page 2

NOT PRACTICABLE AT PRESENT

40-Hour Week For Nurses ACCOMMODATION PROBI,EM AT WELLINGTON The 40-hoiii’ week for nurses at Wellington Public Hospital is :it present impracticable. The medical superintendent (Dr. A. R. Thorne) slated to last night’s meeting of the Wellington Hospital Board that the matron had reported’ on the 40-liour week lor nurses'. "It is not considered possible without very definite inconvenience to patients to give nurses the 40-hour week except, by giving an extra whole day weekly.” proceeded Dr. Thorne's report. " "Tliis would require over forty more nurses, and at the present lime it would be quite impracticable to bouse them. Any other method than the whole d:>v off would cause much confusion on the three shifts. I therefore recommend that for the lime being the question of a 40-hour week for the nurses be held over.” Mr. A. 11. Carman said the board bad been wholeheartedly in agreement on the principle of 'he 40-honr week, and asked for a report, on the cost and extra staff required to make it apply to all its employees. The report in regard to other sections of the staff would l>e furnished later. He agreed it was not. possible to operate the 40-hour week for nurses at present for the reasons given. lie suggested as an alternative that instead of a day off a week, nurses he given a fortnight off each three months. A relieving staff of 40 nurses, v.’ho would not otherwise be working, could be engaged aud they could reside in I lie quarters occupied bv nurses on leave.

Mr. A. W. Croskery said all members of the board favoured the 40-hour week.

The nurses were not by any means unanimous as to wanting a 40-hour week, said Miss Amy Kane. If they had it, the period of training might have to be extended as nurses would probably not be able to get through in the reduced time. Discussion was deferred until reports were received covering all sections of the board’s employees.