HOSPITAL STAFFS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 60, 8 February 1945, Page 3

HOSPITAL STAFFS

COMPENSATION FOR DISEASE. WELLINGTON, Feb. 8. Compensation for members of hospital staffs contracting disease in the course of their duties wus discussed by the Hospital Boards Association confereUGhie remit, submitted by Wellington, asked that pulmonary tuberculosis, when. contracted by any members of a hospital staff whose duties involved contact with tuberculosis patients or the handling of tuberculosis material, be declared an occupational disease under the Workers’ Compensation Act. The other, from Otago, asked that any infectious disease contracted on duty by a member of the nursing staff should he covered by the Vi orkers’ Compensation Act. Both remits were referred to the incoming executive for c-onsidei-ation in consultation with the Department of Health. Air A. J. Phi Hip ps (Palmerston North) said that first and second year nurses would not be so well off under workers’ compensation as they were at present. All those in the Otaki Sanatorium at present were getting a cash grant and lie did not think it was less than £1 a week in any case. The following.remit was also referred to the executive: “That the Government be requested to exempt from social security and national security tax all payments made under section 4 of the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Amendment Act, 1936, to persons who, while employed by any board on nursing duties or within 12 months after being so employed, contract pulmouary tuberculosis, sucli payments beino- in the nature of compensation.