HOSPITAL BOARD'S STAFFING WORRIES

Northern Advocate, 13 December 1937, Page 2

HOSPITAL BOARD'S STAFFING WORRIES

Staffing difficulties were discussed today by the Whangarei Hospital Board. Several resignations were dealt with, and the problem of filling the vacancies exercised the board. The board first had to consider the appointment of an assistant medical superintendent, in place of Dr. Dawton, who has been appointed superintendent to the Whakatanc Hospital. The chairman. Mr J. A. S. Mac Kay, remarked that the question arose as to what salary should be given. Dr. Dawson had commenced at £4OO a year, but with the changed conditions, he did not feel that a new man could be offered that sum.

Mrs V. Donaldson moved that the salary of the new assistant medical superintendent be £SOO with a house or house allowance.

Mr F. Elliott seconded pro forma. Mr A. Clarke felt it was unwise to offer £SOO, plus a house allowance, and said it would be starting at the maximum.

He moved an' amendment that the salary be fixed at £SOO, without house allowance.

Good Man Required,

The chairman pointed out that, if the services of a single man were not obtained, it might be necessary to arrange for a house.

Mr J. G. Barclay inquired the salaries other boards wore paying.

During the transition period, while the hospital was being enlarged, Mrs Donaldson felt that a good man must be obtained to carry on with Dr. Hall for 12 months at least.

Mr F. Higginson agreed that a good man was required, pntil the alterations had been completed. In. Nelson, he said, the medical superintendent was getting £6OO a year. He felt that £SOO a year and quarters should attract good men. The secretary suggested that the amendment should be altered to include “board.”

This was acceptable to the mover of the motion, and the salary offered was finally decided as £SOO per annum, plus board and lodgings.

Nurses Resign

I In her report, the matron stated that i Miss A. E. Bell, who had completed her training, tendered her resignation. She had proved a most successful nurse. Miss E. Swayne recommended the appointment of Miss Jessie Quarrie as a staff nurse as from December 19, and this recommendation was accepted, j In addition, Miss Swayne recommended the appointment of two more I staff nurses in order to maintain effij ciency. “The fact that there was only j one final nurse in the December team j leaves us for the coming six months without any fourth year nurse at all,” j her report stated. She suggested that | the position be advertised. In the maternity annexe, Misses Mary Connell. Bernice Schmitt and Mabel Whelan tendered their resignations. Nurse Whelan, who completed her training early in December, offered to fill a position in another hospital early in January. This position also should be advertised, the matron suggested. Another Problem, Added to these staffing difficulties, the board received a letter from the Nurses and Midwives’ Registration-: Board, stating that a report of a recent inspection by Miss E. R. Bridges, was presented to the Registration Board. This report had indicated that records of particulars in regard to the pupili nurses, with special reference to their | health, were most inadequate, j _ “1 was instructed to point out to you,” the letter read, "that in the Registra-1 tion Board’s opinion it is essential, if j the hospital is to function satisfactor- i ily as a training school for pupil! nurses, the matron should be given assistance by the appointment of either I a tutor sister or a home sister with I combined duties."

A report brought down by the House Committee recommended, that a tutor sister be appointed.

The chairman, Mr j. A. S. Mac Kay, stressed the difficulty of obtaining tutor sisters.

On the motion of Mr Clarke, it was decided that the services of the sister be obtained.

Never Shorter of Nurses,

The chairman said the matron reported that it was a difficult matter to obtain nurses. The hospital, he said, has never been shorter of nurses than it is at the present time, and it has never been harder to get them. He moved that the position be advertised as suggested, and this the board agreed to do.

Mr J. A. S. Mac Kay then touched upon the difficulty of getting maids for the hospital.

Mis V. Donaldson: Would it be possible to employ extra porters if maids cannot be obtained?

She said that during her visit to Australia there had been a similar shortage of maidservants, and housewives had employed young men instead. Mi F. Elliott: A Japanese housebov! Mrs Donaldson: As a matter of fact they wore Italians.

Not Paying- Enough

Mr Higginson: The reason why the board cannot keep maids is that they are not paying enough. Hotels and boardinghouses are offering the girls greater wages.

The secretary said lire maids wore given £ 1 a week to commence and the salary increases to 20 The matron, however, could not pay more Mr Clarke moved that the matter of maids be referred to the chairman and matron with power to act. “If it is necessary to raise wages ” ne said, “then that is the only thine to do.”

Mr Higginson seconded the motion which was carried. ' ’