NURSES' HOURS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 57, 4 September 1937, Page 8

NURSES' HOURS

IMPROVEMENT PLANNED

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—l was interested in reading the letter signed "Father" in "The Post" on August 24, stating that from information received nurses' hours worked in maternity hospitals are up to 80 hours a week and more. I regard the reply from the Health Department that the regulations state 48 hours per week to be worked and one day off per week as unsatisfactory. Had the Health Department stated that it had filed a monthly record of hours worked by nurses in hospitals under its control and that the figures revealed that the regulations were being complied with that would have been a satisfactory reply. And even so, there is still room for improvement in the regulations. The nurses are civil servants, the same as the clerks and executives, and are entitled to the same hours. The evidence at the Napier Hospital inquiry was that nurses worked from 60 to 70 hours per week, a seven-day week, and sometimes worked up to six weeks without a day off. How would Civil Service clerks like that? And similar hours are worked in other public, hospitals. .Tjie nurses have three weeks' annual leave, but they do not get the usual bank or public holidays. Moreover, for all hours worked over the regulation hours of 48 per week they get no pay; for the weekly day off, which they repeatedly do not get, no pay and no extra time off. There is no other ody of workers in New Zealand who would stand for it, and yet they seldom grumble, but carry on. These nurses are the pick of our girls, each one being medically examined and passed as being absolutely fit and of good physique before taking up duty. The figures should be available to show how many have commenced duty, say, in the last four years, and how many are broken down in health ,and have either resigned or are at present receivng treatment in hospital. The figures would probably be startling, because they are run down with overwork, and then are in the best place to catch any disease. All the more reason that they should have at least fair play in the matter of hours of work. Also, in addition to the excessive hours worked, they have to study many subjects for the examinations. —I am, etc.,

ANOTHER FATHER.

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—l noticed a letter in your issue of August 24 in which "Father" draws attention to the hours worked by nurses in maternity homes. It seems that anything up to 80 hours a week is worked. While on the subject, does anyone ever thh,k of the hours worked by nurses in our own public hospital? Being ah inmate there recently, it seemed to me that the 40-hour week had not reached them yet. The 60-hour week, however, had. Now I submit that girls who take on the profession of nursing, and which I go so far as to say is the most important profession in the country bar none, should at least be treated fairly both by the community at large and by the Government that takes its directions therefrom. Only those who have had to spend some time in a hospital know what nurses have to put up with. No wonder it is only the very best type of girl that is fitted to become one. And their pay? .1 cull this from a contemporary. Nurses in first year £37 10s, fourth year £75, staff nurses £95 for first year, £110 for second year. Sisters, the magnificent salary of £130 a year. The board, I understand, excuses these meagre salaries on the ground that nurses receive free board and lodging.. This, I should say, under mass production and supply would not be worth more than £ 1 a week and would bring a fourth-year nurse's salary to £127 per annum. I have heard there are typists in Wellington receiving £200 a year, yet no one would say their work is comparable with that,of nurses. It would seem that as almost all professions and trades are organised into unions it is high time the nurses followed suit. Newspapers are full of actions of unions throughout the country in getting, or trying to get, this, that, or the other for its-members, and are more often than not successful. If they don't get what they want they go on strike. It would look well, would it not, if our hospital nurses went on strike. It speaks well for them that they have not done so long ago.They put their work first, themselves second, and I honour them for that, more especially when they must know, as everyone else does, "that the creaking wheel gets the most grease."—l am, etc.,

JOHN L. MACDONALD. fl[

The chairman of the Wellington Hospital B.oard. (Mr. J. Glover), to whom these letters were referred, made the following statement: —

"At the present time nurses work 48 hours a week—B-hour shifts. with one day off per week. In addition they receive three weeks' holiday on full pay per annum. Nurses at the Ewart Hospital work 40 hours per week, and have two days off per week as well as a three weeks' holiday per annum. Lack of accommodation at present prevents the board arranging a 40-hour week for all nurses. However, a 40----hour week is the board's policy, and as soon as the new block of 132 bedrooms is opened the 40-hour week will be put into operation for all the nurses engaged at the Wellington Hospital.

"Salaries have gradually increased, and now the nurses receive £37 10s first year, £47 10s second year, £57 10s third year, and £75 in the fourth year. After qualifying most of them wish to stay on for further experience, and during this period they receive £95 for the first year and £110 the second year. The nurses all live on the premises. When the new wing is erected the accommodation will fete excellent, a single room being provided for each nurse."