PRIVATE HOSPITALS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 6, 7 July 1938, Page 24

PRIVATE HOSPITALS

FEES INCREASED

EFFECT OF f?£6iJLATIONS

(By "Telegraph—Press Association.;) ! AUCKLAND, July 6. ; Following the announcement of regulations reducing the weekly hours 'ofwork for nurses, to 48, inclusive of meal' times, private hospitals in Auckland haye found it necessary to increase thepresent fees charged to patients to the1 extent of £2 Is a week. This will also teave the effect of establishing a minimum weekly charge of £6 6s. The increased fees were decided upon at a meeting of the licensees of seven hospitals representing 160 "acute" beds. Considerable concern was expressed at the difficulties which the new regulations entailed, wide implications <o'fi the position being discussed. The fact that meal times were included in the '48-hour week was regarded as the most difficult provision. It was stated to be fairly common for a ratio to be found already of one employee to each patient. rln an endeavour to secure some amendment to the new conditions, a petition was forwarded from the imeet>! ing to the Director of Health, Dr, M. H. Watt. "The grava hardship" of the1 provisions was pointed out, and it was stated that, with the extra staff necessitated, difficulties arose from an acute shortage of nurses and from lack of accommodation for th«m. It was also considered that a special dispensation should be allowed in the case of theatre sisters and others who fulfilled special' ditties, the exigencies of which required them to be available for long and continuous periods on many occasions. This was particularly so in surgical hospitals. In consideration of their work they were paid higher salaries •and extra privileges were extended to them.