“GET AWAY WITH IT”

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 51, Issue 3132, 17 June 1942, Page 4

“GET AWAY WITH IT”

“GOOD ONES PENALISED” NURSING SISTER’S CASE HOSPITAL BOARD DISCUSSION “The good ones are penalised and the bad ones get away with it,” remarked Mr A. G. Davis, commenting at the monthly meeting of the Thames Hospital Board on the new system of hospital essentiality, which gave power, through the district manpower officer, to have an employee who walked off duty directed to return.

It was realised by members that the board would use its power of intercession with the manpower officer only in the case of an employee whose services were worth keeping; such an employee was at a disadvantage compared with an unsatisfactory employee who had offended in exactly the same way. Mention was made during the meeting of three such cases. The first was an intimation that a nurse who had been ordered back to duty by the manpower officer through the board’s representations had now returned to duty, at Thames.

The second was the case of a sister at Coromandel Hospital who, the secretary explained to members, had apparently walked out on being asked to do afternoon duty on four days. She had not been heard of since. Mr J. W. Danby: lam concerned with the effect on juniors of this 1 , defiance of discipline by a senior. They will think that if she can get away with it, so can. they. Considerable discussion followed, after which Mr C. W. Parfitt moved that the sister’s case be referred fo. the manpower officer with a recommendation that she be directed to return to her employment with the board. The third case mentioned was that of a cook at Coromandel Hospital. It was 1 questioned whether there was any reason, other than the fact that the staff heads did not want her back, < that she should be allowed to stay away, whereas others had been brought back against their wishes. Finally, however, it was: decided to do nothing about it.