POSITION BAD

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 55, Issue 32713, 15 May 1946, Page 5

POSITION BAD

HOSPITAL STAFF

BOARD VERY CONCERNED

CIARE OF THE PATIENTS

DECISION BY THE MEMBERS

“I am very concerned about the staffing position and it seems that in a few months the staff will be insufficient to look after the patients,” said Dr. A. McDiarmid, medical superintendent of the Thames Hospital, speaking to a meeting of the Thames Hospital Board yesterday. He continued to point out that there was also a necessity for more up-to-date appliances in the hospital and that an urgent need was for a portable X-ray plant. “We have tried the ordinary orthodox methods of obtaining staff,” said the chairman, Mr J. W. Danby, “but have not been successful. There is an almost total lack of applicants for positions as trainee®.”

The matron of the hospital, Miss. W. Hili, gave figures to clarify the position. ' At the present moment in the hospital there were eight sisters, seven staff -nurses, and 32 trainees. By the thirteenth of next month the figures would be, eight sisters, two staffnurses ((with possibly one additional), and' 2t9 trainees (possibly less one). In the maternity annexe there was one sister-in-charge, one sister and five trainees. The annexe had also one domestic servant. “The number of nurses coming through is very small,” said Miss Hill. "I know of only one who is coming, although there are two nurses who will be returning from sick leave shortly.” The domestic staff now numbered 12 instead of the 20 employed in the past. Altogether the staff was six less than the normal number employed at Thames but was 14 less- than the quota advised by the Health department. This shortage has been- made more aciite by the increased bed-rate,” Miss Hill continued. ‘This has risen by 25.® per cent.” Male Labour Used ' (Further male labour was being employed, she said, and there were now 111 men (including the gardener) being used' for cleaning and other similar duties. “This will have the effect,” said Miss Hill “Of raising the status of domestic workers as the heavier work will be done by the men.” The matron also stressed the need for more modern mechanical appliances, for exam|ple -a dish-washing machine, mechanical floor-polishers, and a mixing machine. Stainless steel instead of enamel for* many hospital appliances was becoming a modern necessity. The chairman said that the secretary had written to the Department of Health with regard to the cost and procurability of such appliances. Mir C. W. Kennedy: “I should like to know if the superintendent or the matron could give the reason why we cannot get staff. Is it because they are being paid an inferior wage to other people ? Or is it because of the .conditions? Could we get from these two people the reasons for the short-

age ? 'Dr M'cDiarmid: I have very definite views on this matter. The shorter the number of staff becomes, the shorter it is likely, to become. I do not think it has anything to do with wages. If because there is such a shortage of staff that qualified' nurses and sistei-s are being forced to undertake work normally carried out by les® qualified or unqualified people, they they will find work elsewhere. Another thing is that this is an old hospital l —-if I may use the term, it is ramshackle. Today there is competition between hospitals and it is the well-appointed ones that will get the available staff. Nurses For Paeroa

Mr Edwin Edwards mentioned a report he had seen in a recent newspaper, according to which there were I'3oo vacancies on hospital boards for staff.

“I know of three girls in Paeroa,” he said, “who want to be nurses. Of these two want to go to Hamilton, and the other to Auckland. These have personal reasons, but there seems to be a tendency for young people to seek employment in the larger centres.

Mt A. H. Sutton: Does the doctor know of any hospital that is fully staffed?

'Dr M’cDiarmid: No, although not all are in as serious a position as is the Thames hospital. <Mr J. W. Neate then rose, and congratulated the chairman on his per.spicacity in bringing Dr Diarmid and

Miss Hill before the meeting, “I have often differed',” he said, “and hope to differ in the future, but on this occasion I wish to congratulate you.” He wished, he said, to ask the superintendent and the matron three questions. The first one was whether it would be possible to employ male nuses as mentioned in the Midiwives (Amendment) Act. These men would be fully qualified nurses who had had experience in military hospitals. He wanted to know if the superintendent would suggest that the board employ these male nurses. iDr 'McDiarmid: I would prefer to investigate the position before making a statement. The chairman supported the superintendent in his desire to await the results- of investigation, and the matron also spoke on the matter. “There are only five hospitals that can train these men” she stated. The position was that the demand would exceed the supply. -Mr Neate’s further question was on the subject of district nurses so that patients could be treated at home. The superintendent said that this would help considerably. The third question I’aised' by Mr Neate was whether or not there were numbers of persons in hospital who could be just as well nursed at home. “Is this not so?” he asked. IDr McDiarmid: No.

Mr Neighbour: I think what Mr Neate means is that there are about 20 chronic patients in hospital. Mr Neate: Very well' then. /Would it help if these chronic cases were put into an auxiliary hospital? Dr M'oDiarmid: I cannot see the benefit of that as chronic patients require as a 1 rule more treatment than any other patients. The chairman in reviewing the position said that the employment of male and district nurses was a longdiscussed and still prominent subject and the matter of chronic cases had also been engaging attention for many years. There was today a necessity to extend the .male nursing services and) also to introduce modern mechanical appliances.

Mr >B. Brown: Four male orderlies are already employed in the hospital. Could the matron employ more than four ?

’Chairman: I do not think that the matron would like to answer that offhand 1 .

It was agreed after discussion to approve of the superintendent’s request for modern appliances to remove the drudgery from the work of the hospital. The chairman then re-introduced the question of a portable X-ray plant. He thought it obvious that the practice of moving patients to the X-ray room could lead' to serious accidents. The doctor strongly advised the procuring of a portable plant and after a short discussion, the request was approved, the position of proem rability to be investigated.

In conclusion the chairman said that he was sorry that he could not offer any immediate relief but that the position should improve later. IM'iss Hill: You have already helped considerably by supplying male help. It was hoped by members of the board that such visits as this would be repeated.