COST OF SALARIES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 117, 18 April 1939, Page 7

COST OF SALARIES.

PALMERSTON NORTH HOSPITAL.

Provision for staff salaries and wages totalling £38,900 was made in the estimates adopted by the Palmerston North Hospital Board yesterday for ' the main Hospital and nursing home for 1939-40, including £2OOO for tile payment of part-time medical staff, and £750 for the proportion of general office salaries charged to hospital maintenance, but excluding £5477 os provided for salaries for the surgery and dispensary (£913 15s), domestic and establishment (£3,579 10s), and ambulance service (£984). “An increase in the nursing staff js provided for in the estimates,” reported the managing-secretary (Mr A. •T. Phillipps). It will be remembered that the board decided over twelve months ago that trained nurses (sisters and staff nurses), could, where practicable, he allowed to live out. So far several members of the staff have availed themselves of this privilegeand at present four sisters and six staff nurses are living nut. It is anticipated that during this year six sisters and ten staff nurses will be non-resident. This will enable a total nursing staff of 132 to be employed. “As regards salaries and wages of nil domestic staffs and tradesmeii. these are now all controlled by awards. It is anticipated that within a few months the nurses’ award negotiations will he finalised, but I do not anticipate that the rates which will be agreed on will vary to any great extent from those that this hoard is at present paving.

“In this estimate of salaries £2OOO is allowed for payment to the honorary staff. This estimate is made so that an amount will he available to meet the position which will arise when the hospital benefits under the social security scheme a.re introduced. 5Ve have already received a circular from the department in this matter, and it is necessary to provide this amount to meet the changed position which will arise. Once all negotiations are completed I estimate that probably £SOOO to £6OOO annually will bo required for tEe payment of part-time medical staff, but it seems sufficient to provide r '3ooo for this year as. even if benefits are introduced before Septoml>er, it is unlikely that we would be able to finalise arrangements for the payment .of staff until towards the end of the year.”