£lOO ALLOWANCE

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 129, 25 February 1938, Page 12

£lOO ALLOWANCE

Nurses Who Live Out From Hospital GRANT MADE BY BOARD A decision to grant all members of the nursing staff at present living out an allowance of £lOO per annum was made at last night’s meeting of the Wellington Hospital Board, when a clause to that effect, recommended by the general purposes committee, was adopted. A letter in connection with boarding difficulties was submitted by Dr. A. R. Thorne, medical superintendent, and this was as follows: —

“A full meeting of the sisters and trained nurses on the board’s staff was held last Tuesday evening to discuss the proposal that some of the staff should live out,” stated the superintendent’s'letter. “The meeting was unanimous that suitable board and lodgings within reasonable distance of the hospital were practically unobtainable. The accommodation that was available would cost from £2 a week upward. This is confirmed by reports I have had from medical students and dentists and from other inquiries made. “Except for 10 or 11 who could arrange to live at home, a living-out allowance of £lOO per annum would not induce others to live out. The reasons given are inconvenience regarding changing, distance from hospital of any reasonable accommodation, cost of transport and cost of board. “In any scheme put forward the board would have to provide two meals a day as well as provide adequate changing-place and lockers. Those living out would have to work their dutj’ hours as if living in. “The meeting asked that in view of the additional 30 or more nurses who will have to be housed shortly, the boards consider the provision of temporary accommodation which could later be used for other purposes such as housing the lay staff. “There is no doubt that one of our major difficulties in procuring suitable trainees is the inadequate provision regarding the home. The proposal that was previously made was to erect accommodation for 31 nurses in single rooms at an estimated cost not to exceed £6OOO. Compared with living out allowances for nurses or maids, this building would give a good return on the outlay, apart altogether from conveniences to the staff and the institution.” The letter was received.