HOSPITAL BOARD’S

Grey River Argus, 21 November 1928, Page 5

HOSPITAL BOARD’S

HEATED DISCUSSION. Over Nurse’s Dismissal. “CHARAPSIER ANJ> CAREER DESTROYED.” TOO SEVERE A PUNISHMENT. (Per Press Association). AUCKLAND, November 20. The cage of Nurse A. Blackie, who was dismissed from the hospital staff by a Special Committee appointed by the Auckland Hospital Board, for sending a letter to a prisoner at Mount Eden Gaol, who had been a patient, and in which was an indiscreet .reference to the Lady Superintendent,’ vtais again considered by the Board After .a somewhat heated discussion, lasting an hour, it. was decided that the nurse should appear before the Board at a special meeting next Monday, so that the* Board might hear what she had' to say in defence. In a letter to the Board, the nurse said: “t think that to have my character and my career destroyed., and to be dismissed at a moment’s notice, is too severe a punishment for what I have done.”

Mr M. Laing, a member of the Board, said he did not. think it was the Board’s business to whom the girl wrote, as long as she did her work. In his opinion, she could only have been punished for being out late. The Chairman, Mr W. Wallace, said that all the nurses were in th 0 habit of coming in late. Discipline must be maintained. Miss Blackie had said in her letter that the Matron was “going soft.” A Member: Perhaps she meant softhearted. (Laughter.) The Chairman added: Nurses were actually getting in through the. maids’ quarters and climbing over their beds. If they allowed this, it would be the end of diseiplin e 4 Regarding the statement of Miss Blackie that she had been dismissed without her wages, they had not been collected by her. and were waiting for her. The resolution to hear the nurse was then carried.