SHORTAGE OF NURSES

Grey River Argus, 13 August 1946, Page 2

SHORTAGE OF NURSES

Position in Grey Acute MATRON TO BROADCAST APPEAL ‘Our main problem is that we have insufficient pupil nurses; the position in respect to trained staff is not so acute,” said Miss N. F. Moffatt, Matron of the Grey River Hospital, yesterday, when interviewed by an “Argus” reporter in respect .to an acute shortage of nursing staff at present being experienced on the West Coast. At the Grey River Hospital, vacancies exist for twelve pupi nurses, while a theatre sister and a staff nurse are also required. Although vacancies still exist, the position in regard to domestic stalf has improved considerably over the past two months. In an effort to alleviate the position, a Friends of the Hospital Society is to be formed under the auspices of the National Council of Women in Grey mouth. This organisation, which will embrace all women’s organisations in the district, should, when in operation, prove of considerable benefit to the hospital while it is Niort staffed.

To-night, Matron Moffatt will broadcast a talk on nursing as a career over Station 3ZR, and in recent weeks, nurses who are members of the Registered Nurses’ Association, have addressed secondary school girls and various women’s institutions on the subject. Senior girls from the Greymouth Technical High School will visit the hospital to-day on a tour of inspection, and on Friday a similar visit will be made by girls from the Convent of Mercy School. Questioned on the possibility of the Government’s action in bringing nurses from England to New Zealand giving relief to the Greymouth Hospital, Matron Moffatt was of the opinion that as the majority of the nurses .to arrive from England would be mental nurses,- it would have no immediate effect, but considered that they may relieve nurses in mental institutions for regulai’ hospital duties.