CIVIL NURSING RESERVE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXIII, Issue 25, 29 December 1942, Page 2

CIVIL NURSING RESERVE

ASSISTANCE TO HOSPITALS. (Press Assn.) OAMARTJ, Dec. 29. The Minister of Health (Mr Nordmeyer), who is spending the holidays in Oamaru, announced to-day that in view of the difficulties experienced by hospital boards, particularly small ones, in securing nursing staffs, Cabinet has approved the establishment of a civil nursing reserve for the Dominion. The reserve which will be under the control of the Nursing Division ; of the Health Department will consist of both registered nurses and voluntary aids and will form a pool from which may be drawn nurses for ! the staffing of temporary services hospitals as well as for the provision of temporary nursing assistance in ordinary public hospitals. The reserve will be* supplementary to the regular staffs of the hospital boards and the Department of Health; "The staff requirements of hospitals constantly fluctuate, and under the present conditions the authorities of each hospital during periods of reduced demand must each retain its surplus staff or run the risk of being unable to obtain additional staff when the need arises," said the Minister. "The reserve is intended to meet these constantly fluctuating staff requirements and it will offer continuity of employment to a large body of registered nurses and voluntary aids who are willing to serve in a nursing capacity in any part of the country. The rates of pay, living out allowance, leave provisions, and general conditions of service have been to make them as attractive as possible. Travelling expenses and a uniform allowance will be granted, Each hospital board availing itself of the services of members of the reserve will bo required to reimburse the department for tho reservists' pay for the actual period of service with the board. Applications will bo called for by advertisement early in the new year, when forms of application and conditions of service will be obtainable from regional nursing officers of the , Health Department.