HEALTH OF NURSES

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 142, 13 December 1933, Page 15

HEALTH OF NURSES

PREVALENCE OF TUBERCULOSIS

The abnormally high percentage of tuberculosis among hospital nurses has been' the subject of Government investigation in New Zealand and abroad, and the Health Department is attempting to meet the situation by improved training in aseptic conditions, and closer supervision and greater precaution's against infection. This information was given to the House of Representatives yesterday by the Hon. J. A. Young,- Minister of Health, when replying to statements made by Mr. F. Jones (Labour, Duncdin South). Mr. Jones said that it was reported that there were more cases of tuber- i culosis among nurses employed by the Otago Hospital Board than in any other district, but this was said to be due to the fact that tho other districts did not report the- true facts. He had been told that at the Pleasant Valley sanatorium owned by the Otago board, nurses had had to work as long as eleven weeks without a day off. This might be due to the fact that nurses preferred leave to accumulate and then make a visit to Dunedin, but he had been told that in some cases they had been ordered to- work for long periods without relief. He thought it essential, if tuberculosis among nurses was to be kept at bay, that they should have their weekly Say' off each w Teek and he also believed that older and more mature- nurses should be employed in sanatoria as they, with their experience, would be more careful in taking precautions against infection. In admitting the high incidence of tuberculosis among nurses, the Minister explained the precautions which the Department was now taking. As regards the holiday question, that was incidental to proper conditions for nurses and the Department was trying to- secure these.