HOSPITAL STAFFING

Evening Star, Issue 25617, 18 October 1945, Page 4

HOSPITAL STAFFING

ACUTE SHORTAGE IN OTAGO MANY VACANCIES AT SEAGLIFF The shortage of staff for hospitals in Otago, and particularly Seacliff mental hospital, is causing .considerable concern. The district man-power officer, Mr S. C. Bingham, stated this morning that there were at present 130 vacancies in the district for hospital work, including* 37 at Seacliff. Because of this shortage the existing staffs were unable to get the leave periods to which the women were entitled, and they were working extra shifts. The strain of this service was beginning to tell, and the position would become even more difficult unless additional staff could he found. Mr Bingham said that calls for voluntary labour for hospitals had not been very successful in the past, but the department was again appealing to young women between the ages of 21 and 25 to volunteer for service so as to relieve the, position, not only in mental institutions, but in hospitals generally. Au abnormal loss of staff had resulted from girls marrying demobilised servicemen and from others leaving because of medical disabilities. In addition, many girls had been directed to hospitals or to Seacliff for a limited period, and they were reaching the end of their contract with the department. Next February, a further number of workers would be entitled to leave-for that reason, and the department' was anxious that it should be able to give such of the girls who wished to leave the opportunity to do so at the end of their year's service. " Those girls who have gone to Seacliff and hospitals generally by direction have done wonderful work, which is much appreciated by this department and the hospital authorities,'' Mr Bingham said. "We now hope there will be a good response to the present appeal so the department can carry out its agreement with the girls who were previously directed and who now expect to be released." Mr Bingham added that when a full complement of staff was available Either at Seacliff or other hospitals, the working conditions were good.