EFFICIENT STAFFING DIFFICULT

Northern Advocate, 25 June 1937, Page 4

EFFICIENT STAFFING DIFFICULT

NAPIER HOSPITAL INQUIRY

Member Of Commission Alarmed r Svecial to “Northern Advocate "i NAPIER, This Day. Great alarm was expressed by. Sir George Elliot, a member of the Royal Commission which is , investigating affairs at the Napier Hospital, when the commission was informed by the matron,' in the course of her evidence yesterday, that lack of accommodation was a difficulty in efficient staffing of the institution. The same witness informed the commission that she had drawn the attention of the e Hawke’s Bay Hospital Board to the problem of accommodation at least 12 months ago. When it had heard further evidence in camera from members of the nursing staff' and brief testimony by the matron and the medical superintendent, the commission disposed of two of the most important items on its order of reference, namely, measures taken to detect ill-health among nurses and the regulation of hours and duties and the control and training of pupil nurses at the institution. Limited Facilities, After evidence had been heard in camera from three nurses in training, the commission heard the testimony of the matron, Miss Lettie Mabel Croft, who described the conditions of training generally. To Mr Foden (representing the Director-General of Health) witness said facilities for practical demonstrations wex’e limited. .Latterly she had had difficulty in maintaining the full quota of trainees at ; the hospital, and the number of applications had recently been less numerous than in the past

Mr Foden: Has the training school at Napier a good reputation?—As far as I am aware it has. f Witness detailed each year’s training for a pupil nurse, describing the order in which' the subjects were taught and the extent of tuition. She expressed the opinion that the ward sisters, whose part in the training consisted of giving practical - instructions, were conscientious in assisting with the training ,of pupil nurses'. : Satisfied With System. Mr Foden: Does the system conform with the requirements?—l am satisfied with it. .

Witness; added she did . not - favour compulsory training. The system of setting down a certain hour for study was not satisfactory, as, at that time, a nurse might, feel inclined to play tennis, and would feel mere refreshed and better able to study afterwards. Mr M. R : . Grant (representing the Hawke’s Bay Hospital Board): Has any nurse l}een accused by you of malingering?—No, never, I have a recollection ,of one nurse saying to another that she did not like to report sick because they coddle us fob much. Have you any difficulty in getting what you want from the board? There have been delays. Did Not Know. Questioned by Miss C. McKenny (member of the commission), witness agreed that nurses who had done e full day’s work would be fatigued in the evening, and attendance at lectures would be undesirable. . The outbreak of venereal disease in the children’s ward was revived in the course of the matron’s evidence as the result of further questions by Miss McKenny. Witness said she was not aware that the hot bath treatment was being given to the children until well after it had been started. She did not become aware, until the hoard inquiry, last January, that the treatment was being carried out. Miss McKenny; What did you think of the charge nurse in the ward taking part in the treatment?—l was not aware of what she knew. Accepted Explanation. Well, when you did come to know that she had been associated with the ward sister in the treatment, what was the sequel?—She said she thought it I was wrong and I accepted her explana- I tion. ........

Miss McKenny; I want to know what you thought of this quaTmed nurse acting contrary to medical

orders. Witness; She carried out the sister’s instructions. The matter was in the board’s hands and I thought they would take any necessary action. Witness was' questioned at length by Sir James Elliott, regarding the accommodation. for the staff, and said she anticipated difficulties in sparing a number of nurses for long periods to go to the Hastings Hospital (which is controlled by the same board as the Napier Hospital), ' Reported To Board. Sir James: Will it disorganise your system in Napier?—lt will be difficult. To be able to do it, we will require more accommodation. Sir James: I must say it alarms me, in view of your evidence of the insufficient staffing and accommodation. Have you protested to the board?—l j have put in my report on the matter, j Sir James: You have reached an j impasse on the matter —Yes. When asked by Sir James if the facts 1 which she was now disclosing should I not have been known before, witness 1 said she had mentioned it as long j ago as 12 months. ! Brief testimony was given by the medical superintendent. Dr J. J. Foley, regarding the arrangements for lectures and other instruction.

Dr Foley's evidence completed the inquiry into the staff conditions, leaving the commission only two more subjects to' examine in order to complete its investigations.