A MAJOR PROBLEM

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 51, Issue 3159, 19 August 1942, Page 4

A MAJOR PROBLEM

STAFF FOR THE HOSPITALS POSITION IS SERIOUS NURSE HELD FOR TWO MONTHS .“Staffing is a major problem. We used to have a waiting list of nurses —now we are on the waiting list,*’ said the chairman of the Thames Hospital Board, Mr P. E. Brenan, on Wednesday. “I am pleased to say,” he added, “that the manpower officer has been most helpful in assisting us to procure staff.”

The matter of staffing difficulties arose when the secretary, Mr A. L. Neighbour, had read a number of communications from the manpower authorities in regard to directions to girls to work at hospitals under the Board’s control.

One nurse, Miss D. Rutherford, wrote asking the Board to release her on September 4 to enable her to return to the South Island to take up maternity training. The secretary pointed out that Nurse Rutherford had been directed to the Thames Hospital Board by the Manpower Officer. She had understood that that was for a period of six months, and that the six months was up in September. Nurse Rutherford, added Mr Neighbour, could not start her training in the South Island until the beginning of December —“and, gentlemen, the position of getting trained staff is serious. ’ ’ Released From October 31 The chairman moved that . Nurse Rutherford be advised that the Board would consent to her release from its employment as from October 31. “I think we are entitled to retain her services till then,” he said, “and that will give her a month for a holiday.” The subject of shortage of nursing staff come up for discussion when a communication was received from the secretary of the Hospital Boards’ As- ’ soc.iation of New Zealand, Mr E. Gannons, requesting information, as t<\ the extent the intake of pupil nurses at Thames was affected by the draw-off ’ of girls for war work. Speakers mentioned the importance of the problem, and it was decided to forward the information required. Mr Cannons wrote: “Girls and women between the ages of 18 and 30 with a good secondary education are being advertised for in all newspapers to take up training in munition, tool and gauge-making—with a salary of £3-per week during .six months’ training and ruling rates thereafter. “Girls and women of from 18 to 45 years are also being advertised for as being urgently for home ser- . vice in the Navy, Army and Air Force. Then there is the compulsory registration of girls of 20 to 21 years of. age for essential war work.”

Mr Cannons ’ letter, it was appreciated, summed up some of the difficulties under which hospitals had to secure staff.