HOSPITAL NURSES

Evening Star, Issue 25034, 29 November 1943, Page 4

HOSPITAL NURSES

TO THE EDtTOR. Sir, —I noticed with pleasure a letter appearing in the ' Star ' last week aliampioning the cause of the nurses who work long hours in the hospitals throughout New Zealand. One only has to pick up the papers and read the appeals to the man power authorities for girls appealing against direction to hospitals and similar institutions. Why? As your ■ earlier correspondent points out, there is more glamour in an Air Force, Army, or land girls' uniform, not to mention the greater amount of pay, travelling privileges, and clothing, etc. The nurses in our hospitals must have many grievances, what with their had hours and poor pay'. Perhaps the fault lies with the penny-pinch policy of the hospital boards. They no doubt think the nurses do not earn their salaries, and therefore in the opinion of the boards or persons responsible for the computing of the salaries, they are sufficient. Perhaps a campaign against the salaries, etc., received ,by the nurses would be more in keeping than one on prison reform. Of course it might not meet with the approbation of a few of our politicians and others, as they no doubt think nurses arc overpaid and not worthy of their hire. In the opinion of those who have had treatment in hospital, the hospital staff are doing a wonderful job, and are fully aware of the conditions 'under which the nurses work, but as soon as they are well aud about again they very complacently forget how well they were cared for, and with a smug conscience wipe the thought of their Tiospital experiences from their minds, forgetting the long, back-breaking; hours spent by the nurses for their b"enefit. Perhaps the 0.L.1R.C. would like to take the matter up, thereby doing something towards helping those doing such humanitarian work.—l am, etc., Sympathetic. November 27.

f'fhe Hospital Boards' Association and the New Zealand Registered Nurses' Association have been in consultation on the subject of nurses' wage.s, and a new scale has been adopted subject to the approval of the Director of Stabilisation. The new scale, which provides for all-round increases for the nursing staff, will cost the Otago Hospital Board an additional £3.869 a year. Under the proposals first-year pupil nurses will -receive an increase from £(SO to £72. second vear from £72. to £B2, (third year from'£B2 to £92, fourth vear (unregistered) from £BB to £lOl. and fourth year (registered) will remain at £l2o.—Ed. M.S.] .