Hannan Ward Will Open Temporarily: Staffing Problem

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 August 1947, Page 4

Hannan Ward Will Open Temporarily: Staffing Problem

The closing of Hannan ward in order to relieve the wprk of the nursjng staff and enable them to catch up on time-off, has not yet accomplished its object, according to a report presented to the, Grey Hospital ’ Board last evening by the surgeon superintendent, Dr S. Barclay. It was decided, however, to open the ward for a week during the month, after which it will be again closed for an indefinite period. A statement in a local newspaper may have given board members an unduly optimistic impression of the state of affairs, began the report. Abrupt Deterioration “The staff position deteriorated abrutly within a few z days of last board meeting,” it added, “so much so .that the., gain, in closing-Hannan ward was wiped out. Although the staff has since begun to increase in numbers, as a result of shortages and the need for special nurses for some very bad cases, the days off are not yet made up..l have asked the matron to do her best to keep faith with the staff over this and am assured she is doing all she can to give them their time off. Whilst the matron cannot, naturally, undertake that all such time will be made up, there is reason to hope the bulk of it will be taken by September, “I have discussed the matter with the matron and recommend that Hannan ward be reopened for one week in the school holidays to accommodate tonsil cases and be then closed down again. It should be reopened when ’either :(1) the staff has had its proper time off, or (2) the influx of cases renders it imperative.”

Difficulties With Children

Reporting generally, the superintendent said the month had been busy in the surgical wards as a number of accident cases had added to the work. The medical wards had not been quite so busy as usual. There had been minor difficulties at times with the children, but on the whole the difficulties had been less than expected. The superintendent in his statistical report stated that 141 patients (72 men and 69 women) had been admitted to the hospital last month, while 133 (68 men and 65 women) had been discharged. Six men and seven women had died in hospital during the month' and 82 remained under treatment at the beginning of August. There had been a total of 97 operations carried out, 106 examinations in the bacteriological department and 1003 exposures taken in the radiography department.

HONOURS BOARD FOR GREYMOUTH MATERNITY NURSES Reference to the high standing of the Grey Hospital as a training ground for maternity nurses was made at last evening’s meeting of the Grey Hospital Board, when it was stated that since the school was established two pupils have been first in New Zealand examinations while 21 have passed with honours. Sixteen nurses, comprising all the entrants, had successfully passed the recent State final examination, it was stated, six with honours, while only three of the others had had under 70 per cent, in marks. On the recommendation of the matron of the maternity annexe, Miss E. Julius, it was decided to erect an honours’ board in the nurses’ home with the names of those nurses who passed with honours. . Travelling Expenses

The payment of travelling expenses for nurses from other districts after they had given six months’ satisfactory service provoked some discussion when proposed by the matron, Miss N. P. Moffatt, in her report. The board finally approved of the recommendation, adding the proviso that where probationer nurses were found after three months’ trial to be unsuitable for nursing, through no fault of their own, travelling expenses be paid by the board. Maternity trainees who spend only a sixmonth training period at the hospital were not included in the concession.

In reply to a further request by the matron for clerical assistance in the wards, the board indicated that this matter was under action. It was reported that improvements to the nurses’ riding school were being carried out. Following another recommendation by the matron, it was decided to purchase a dozen anatomy text books for free use by student nurses. There had been two applicants for positions as nursing aids, one for a pupil nurse and two for part-time duties, stated the.matron. Reporting on the work of the maternity annexe, Miss Julius stated that 40 patients had been admitted during July (38 mothers and two babies). Confiements numbered 34, babies born 34, and patients remaining on August 1 47. Ante-natal attendances totalled 121.