SERIOUS POSITION

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 33, 9 February 1939, Page 22

SERIOUS POSITION

SHORTAGE OF NURSES

DISCUSSION BY BOARDS

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

NEW PLYMOUTH, February 8. The shortage of nurses, both registered and pupil nurses, in the Dominion, together with methods to be adopted to meet the position which, it was stated, was becoming very serious, formed the subject of considerable discussion at the conference of the Hospital Boards' Association today. The cause of the shortage, as well as suggestions for rectifying the position, were reviewed by Miss M. I. Lambie,' Director of Nursing Services. Remits covered a wide range, including the possibility of training male nurses, and it was decided to refer the matter to the executive to confer with the Health Department.

Miss Lambie said that nurses trained in England and Australia had been encouraged to come to New Zealand. The Nurses' and Midwives' Registration Board also agreed to a certain number of German and Austrian refugee nurses being admitted to New Zealand training schools for a year's further training. Applications for admission were under consideration.

A scheme for training of nursing aides was being prepared for legislation in the coming session, said Miss Lambie. Consideration had also been given to the establishment of central preliminary training schools for groups of hospitals.

There were six bursaries available for Maori girls to take up nursing, said the chairman, Mr. J. W. Dove, when Mr. H. E. Mawley (Wairarapa* moved that the Health and Native Departments be asked to make provision to encourage the training of Maori girls in public .hospitals so that their services, after training, would be available in Maori settlements.

Remits concerning *"the introduction of male nurses into hospitals were referred to the executive to take up with the Health Department.