SHORTAGE OF NURSES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21977, 22 March 1946, Page 2

SHORTAGE OF NURSES

Sir,—May I say in reply to Mr.- N. J. Butler that I have never said or inferred that the position of nurses was a bed of roses? What I have said, and repeat, is that there is no “grave shortage” leading to a decrease in the number of beds available. There have never been more beds available at Cook Hospital than there are to-day and the ! hospital is not overcrowded. These are , not matters of opinion but of fact. I yield to no one in my appreciation of the splendid work of the nursing staff, ; but it should be pointed out that any overwork is partly due to the shortage of the unionised domestic staff, which latterly has been one of the major problems. I know of no rule, written or i unwritten, which prevents nurses com- • plaining, either individually or through one of their associations. I have anticipated Mr. Butler’s suggestion that I i should talk the position over with some of the nurses. I have discussed the I matter with many of them and their ; views have been taken into account in comment I have made. My main con- ’ corn at the moment is that the admitted ; difficulties of the Hospital Board should ’ not be aggravated by exaggerated and inaccurate statements regarding the 1 problems of the conditions under which ; the staff has to work. ; The Trades Council’s dislike of the ■! publicity it has caused is understand-

able. but it is difficult to excuse it for failing to have read what has appeared in plain print. Far from evading the issue of salaries and hours of work, I clearly explained that these were matters controlled by the Government and not by the Hospital Board. I can only state the facts; I cannot make Messrs. Thomas and Lindley read them or understand them, H. 11. BARKER.