"AS BAD AS EVER"

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 56, 4 September 1945, Page 9

"AS BAD AS EVER"

HOSPITAL STAFFING

PUBLIG MEETING SUGGESTED

A proposal is made by Mrs. Marshall Macdonald that the women and girls of Wellington should take, a direct interest in the problem of hospital sterling and to that end she suggests that a public meeting should be called. The '•depressing report" of the Hospital Board about difficulties in the dietary department, she considers, is a challenge to women and girls to interest themselves and is an indication also that the board has made no worthwhile effort to carry out needed reforms. "The report of the perennial difficulties of the dietary department of the Wellington Hospital provides the women of this city with food for thought," Mrs. Macdonald. writes. "Many suggestions were put forward by members of the board, none of them, excepting Mrs. Knox Gjlmer, offered a practical suggestion likely to remedy or alleviate the position; in fact, 'a wait-and-see' policy was adopted. Time marches on, nowhere more rapidly than in the hospitals of this country. Sairey Gamp was eliminated from the nursing world many years ago. Is not the time long overdue for the elimination of the domestic from the dietary world? "Diet and feeding play a very important part in the successful treatment of the patient and any Suggestion to lower the high standard of the dietary departments of our hospitals— an achievement gained by the pioneer women members of hospital boards — should be strenuously opposed by one and all. Monotony is the dread foe of appetite, so why impose it on our suffering sick. "One's first reaction is to form a band of workers who would gladly offer part-time voluntary service to the board, but such a measure would be palliative only, would act as a narcotic on the board, and would throw extra responsibility and work on an already overcrowded, staff. NO WORTHWHILE EFFORT. "It is quite apparent, that the board has made no worthwhile attempt to remedy the position itself. The muchmaligned Man-power Officer has been called on to do the job, despite the constant outcry that man-powered assistants are not satisfactory. Wellington Hospital Board has a dietary block second to none in the Southern Hemisphere, well equipped with up-to-date electrical labour-saving appliances, a plentiful supply of the best foodstuffs in the world, a highly-qualified staff of dietitians, and an inadequate but very faithful staff of dietary aids, but there is no progressive policy regarding the staffing of the dietary department. "Why does not the board give the women and girls serving in that department the title dietary aid, Mrs. -——, Miss ; good remuneration; good residential quarters; distinctive and attractive indoor uniforms, social equality with other women members of the staff, with the same facilities for recreation, leisure, and. cultural pursuits. The time is opportune for this reform in the institutional world f "Hundreds of women and girls have willingly and wholeheartedly undertaken during the war similar duties in clubs, hostels, canteens, hospital;-., and military camps in New Zealarid and overseas. I feel confident that many would take positions as dietary aids, provided the above conditions of service prevailed. This is a question of national importance and of individual responsibility, as it affects all our hospitals and the welfa^i" of the patients, many of them returned servicemen. "I wish to appeal to the National Council of Women to call a- public meeting of all societies and women and girls interested, not only in our hospitals and patients, but in the working conditifr'is* of women employed in institutionr, with the object of setting up a conMiittee to work for the outlined reforms. The depressing Hospital Beard report is a challenge to womenyi.o interest themselves in their hospital and the care of the sick, to raise the status of the dietary aid...to uphold the dignity of labour and, aboye all, to ensure for the patients a diet not only sufficient in caloric value, but attractive to the eye arid pleasing to the palate. When we achieve these aims, we shall be worthy to salute victory and play our part in the reconstruction of our social life."