HOSPITAL STAFFING

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11948, 19 May 1933, Page 7

HOSPITAL STAFFING

EXTRA X URSES S 1 UGESTEi? board .Members die j- eh. v ■jl stalling at. Cook Sospiiui, tins time on the muring side, found the board members aguiu at variance at yesterday's meeting. The Department- of Health forwarded details of Aliss Lambie's recommendations as the result of her Inspection of the hospital, these being that a staff nurse should be added to Ward 3 and an additional fourth year nurse to the operating ■theatre staff.' One of the main disadvantages under the present arrangement tvas \hat the ward sister was required to accompany patients to the operating theatre, thus leaving the ward without a sister in'charge-during the period of the operation. These recommendations were supported in special reports from tlio medical superintendent (l>r. It- J. -B. Hall) and the lady superintendent (Sister Liepst). The chairman, Mr. AT T. Trafford, (remarked that the only objection to the suggestion Wsis that the estimates had been already passed and now they were called oh to pay an extra £l6O pel- annum for two additional nurses Airs. Beer considered that the hoard should not • hesitate on account of expense in such an important matter. She moved that both the rejfcommendations by Miss Lambic be ' given effect to. Air. 0. G. Bayliss seconded the mo tion, commenting that when, there wa s a 'risk of human lives being lost it was entirely wrong to cavil about a matter of a hundred pounds or so. Dr. J. C. Collins considered that the theatre sister should be relieved of duties in the dispensary. He moved . an amendment tliat the theatre sister’s duties- he confined to the theatre and that the work in the. dispensary' he carried out by the junior house surgeons. Air. H. Adair seconded the amendment’which, after further brief discussion, wa s carried by seven votes fefour. When tho medical superintendent attended the meeting later, in reply to Air. D. W. Coleman, he stated that the only effect of the chango would he to lighten the duties of the theatre sister and that it would still he - necessary for ward sistei s to. accompany patients to the oper ating theatre. Air. Coleman then moved that the ■whole matter be re-opened, hut the suggestion did not meet with the unanimous support reqiiiret. 1 ; ;tn carry it nnd Air. Coleman .accordingly gave 1 notice of his intention to move. in - ' this direction at the next meeting of the hoard.-' - -