PROTECTION FOR NURSES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 258, 28 September 1935, Page 11

PROTECTION FOR NURSES.

LIABILITY FOR ILLNESS. WELLINGTON, Sept. 28. A scheme to provide for nurses who have suffered illness or disability as the result of the practice of their profession was advocated by Mr F. Jones during his speech on the Budget debate in the House of Representatives yesterday. Mr Jones said there was some doubt at present where the liability lay in that respect and he ap’pealed to the Government to provide definite protection for nurses suffering in that way. “1 know the valuable work these young women are doing,” he said, “and there is always a danger that their health will suffer as the result of the hard work and the study that they must undertake. Between 1930 and 1935 15 nurses in the service of the Otago Hospital Boird contracted tuberculosis, and the question was raised whether the liability lay witn the hospital board. The general opinion was that the board or the insurance companies were liable, butj there was a conflict of opinion legally. Tubercular infection is present to a great extent in the oomnninity, and I hope the Government will consider bringing down some scheme to provide these young women with a definite protection.”