AUCKLAND HOSPITAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15921, 6 May 1912, Page 2

AUCKLAND HOSPITAL.

TROUBLE WITH THE NURSING STAFF. [Per Press Association.] ...AUCKLAND, May 4.

For some time past trouble has been brewing amongst) the nursing staff of the Auckland Hospital. A climax has been reached in the ousting of the late chairman, Mr P. M. M'Kay, and the consequent resignation of the deputy lady superintendent and practically all the heads of the nursing departments, including night superintendent, fourteen ■ ward sistere, the theatre sister and four staff nurses. The trouble has arisen as the result of frequent disagreements between the matron unci her staff, which consists of over one hundred nurses. At various meetings of the' Hospital Board matters affecting the administration and discipline of the institution have frequently been before members, and the position has steadily become more acute. Recently it was reported to the Board that the matron had suspended a number of sisters and nurses, and it became evident that something would speedily have to bt». done if the aifairs of the hospital were not to be thrown into a chaotic state because of internal strife so fr.r as iha nursing staff was concerned. The position was, therefore, made an issue in connection with the election of chairman of the Board last Tuesday evening. It was known that the chairman and four members of the Board were prepared to take action in one particu- , lar direction, and that the other five | members of the Board had placed their ' sympathies in opposition to the chair- ! man. The Board was, therefore, eaually divided,, and when ' Messrs j M'Kay and' Schofield were nominated

by the opposing factions on.the Board there were five, votes pledged to each candidate. Accordingly, their names were placed in a hat, and that of Mr Schofield waß first drawn. The displacement of Mr M'Kay means that the action which some of the members of the nursing staff were anticipating .is not to be carried out, and-accordingly these wholesale resignations have been placed in the hands of the Board, if The trouble became so acute last month;that the Hon G. W. Russell, Minister of Hospitals, ifent • very fully into the matter while he was in- Auckland. His intersst in the posithat has arisen is indicated bytne following telegram, S6nt yesterday •to Mr M'Kay:—"Regret that you have not been re-elected to the position/of chairman, but sincerely hope that your ■ ability; energy and.tact will assist •in bringing about an early settlement on a satisfaclory basis of the trouble that seems to overhang the • institution.— G. W. Russell." .'The matter will os-me before tho Board at its next meeting, > when the following letter will be considered,:— '"'We, the undersigned members ofitho Auckland Hospital nursing staff, respectfully desire to draw the attention of the Board to the fact that we callnot with justice either to the institution or ourselves continue to carry out our duties under the management of the present-lady sunerintendent." The twenty signatures to this communication represent practically the whole dr the senior responsible officers of the institution, and include nurses who have had wide experience in England, Australia and all parts of the dominion.'lt is also understood that many member* of the nursing staff generally are supporting their ward sisters in the attitude they are taking.