NURSES' HOURS

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 53, 11 September 1928, Page 10

NURSES' HOURS

SIX-DAY WEEK STATEMENT BY HOSPITAL CHAIRMAN Mr. 0. M. Luke, chairman of the Wellington Hospital Board,, who has returned from a visit to Wanganui, stated to-day that his attention had been called to two article which had appeared in "The Post" dealing with tho hours of work and days off duty of nurses oil tho Wellington Hospital staff. "WhUo admitting the truth of many of the statements in the articles," said Mr. Luke, "I would like to point out that tho difficulties of late have been so great that it has been simply impossible to give effect to what is the general rulo not only in the Wellington Hospital,.but in all the.hospitals of the Dominion. There has been an abnormal amount of sickness during tho last few months. Indeed, as regards scarlet fever, the epidemic has been running for nearly three years—a period of epidemic of this disease such as I have never known during my long association with hospital administration. In addition to the epidemio of scarlet fever—during which period the number of these patients has at times oxcoeded 100—wo have also had an cpi- j deinie of diphtheria for a period of about three months, .during which there were as many as- 78 cases in hospital at one time. "It must be apparent to everybody that for these periods of epidemics it is scarcely reasonable that wo could keep in reserve a large body of nurses to meet tho requirements of such abnormal conditions. We have at these periods to draw upon what is our normal nursing strength. "To provido just now for a rigid carrying-out of the rule of one day off duty in ton would meau the building of a further addition to the nurses' home, involving an expenditure of approximately from £25,000 to £30,000; and that expenditure would bo more imperative if the day off duty were to bo increased to ono day per week. It is less than five years since wo completed an addition to tho nurses' homo, which provided for an increase of 75 nurses. A RESOLUTION CARRIED. "I may mention that some years ago a resolution was carried by the board to give, when possible, ono day off duty in seven, but it has been impossible for some years past to carry this system out bceauso of lack of accommodation for tho increased number of nnrses which would be required under such an arrangement. "It is only fair to say at this stage that tho numbers of both fever and diphtheria cases are now declining; they have decreased 50 per cent, in ono ease and 40 per cent, in tho other. "The quostion is how far the Government and local bodies would consent to our enlarging our buildings at a considerable cost to meet these changing conditions. What has been suggested could only bo done by either refusing to admit so largo a number of patients—keeping the number within the range at which wo can carry out the hospital's functions with our present staff, and comply with the arrangement of ono day off in ten— which wo have been endeavouring to do; or, by an enlargement of the nurses' homo, thus making provision for an increased staff. "I would like to say that I have great sympathy with the nurses in respect to their hours and the claim for regular days off duty. When the eighthour day and ono whole day off in ton system was first introduced, I was ono of those who rendered assistance in putting the scheme through. In what I have said with regard to tho nurses' hours and regular time off, I believe I am expressing tho general desire of the members of the board." Mr. Luke said that owing to the pressure of work during the past' two months the board had been glad to accept the offer of tho services of the St. John's Ambulance Brigade, some 25 or 30 of whose members had rendered very efficient first-aid and other holpful duty in the wards during that period.