Additional Porter for Hospital; Work Too Heavy For Nurses

Northern Advocate, 11 January 1938, Page 6

Additional Porter for Hospital; Work Too Heavy For Nurses

APPRECIATION of its nursing staff was demonstrated by THE WHANGAREI HOSPITAL BOARD YESTERDAY, WHEN THE QUESTION OF OBTAINING THE SERVICES OF A THIRD PORTER WAS UNDER DISCUSSION.

The question had been brought to the notice of the chairman by the matron, and. though he had pointed out that the hospital had carried on with two porters; for the past nine years, still he placed the matter before the board for consideration.

Mr A. Clarke reminded members that at the last meeting the board had ciscusscd a certain amount of scrubbing which, he thought, might bo done by the porter, thus relieving the nurses.

Mr J. A. S. Mac Kay, chairman, said he had authorised the oiling of corridors, and so much scrubbing had been obviated.

This task, he commented, was too much to expect of a young girl

Mrs V. Donaldson: Some of the heavy polishing could be done by the porters if an extra man is engaged.

Site moved that the request for an extra porter be granted

No Easy Job.

Mr F. Higginson said that in friendly conversation with one of the porters he had been assured that the porter’s job was no easy one. It entailed a lot of unpleasant work, bathing some of the patients in the Old Men's Home, for instance.

“A boy needs to have a strong nerve,” he remarked. “We either should engage another porter or raise the wages. The wages are not high, but if the work is eased, then the wages can remain at their present level.” Mr Elliott inquired the wage that was being paid porters. He was informed by the secretary that this is £2/5/, plus board. There would, the secretary said, be some difficulty in providing accommodation for" a third porter.

Mr Higginson explained that a room at his house was at present being used as a storeroom by one of the porters on the staff of the hospital, and this could be used as sleeping quarters, if required. Too Much Work. Mr Elliott did not know what amount of work porters were called upon to perform. If it was only a question of unpleasant duties, however, ho would recommend increased salaries by way of compensation. If it was a case of more work than they could reasonably be called upon to perform, then, of course, an additional porter would be justified. The chairman; The matron’s idea is that there is too much work. Mr Elliott; Then I have no objection. Mr A. J. McKay seconded the motion moved by Mrs Donaldson. Mr H. A. Younger wished to know if a porter would lighten the duties of nurses. Ho had mot a number of nurses on the boat going to Australia, he said.

Mr Younger understood that nurses were given much better working conditions across the Tasman, and were being assisted to take up positions there. Ten trained nurses, he said, had left New Zealand in two months.

Mr W. J. Bell: What about accommodation?

Mr Higginson: Wo lose some very good gilds. If we gave them £lO a year we could keep them. The chairman: We are overstaffed compared with some hospitals in New Zealand.

Matron’s Opinion, • The matron was then called. “I consider another porter is necessary,” she said. There was too much work for the two men at present employed. Nurses, she said, were doing a.lot of work that porters should be doing. The matron felt she had been unfair to her nurses in not bringing up the matter previously.

The chairman asked if the matron had any suggestions to make regarding accommodation for the third porter.

It would be preferable, she said, that the third porter should live out; accommodation could, however, be found for him either in the “wool” or “china” room. “The biggest difficulty,” commented the matron, “is where we arc going to obtain the porter.” “In the past we’ve always been able to get one when required,” said the chairman. Definite Help to Nurses, It was then agreed to secure the services of a third porter. Mr Younger: It seems it will definitely help the nurses. It is pin-prickings that make the nurses dissatisfied. Mrs Donaldson suggested that if it were possible to obtain the room Mr Higginson had available, it would be preferable to the “wool” room.

She moved that Mr Higginson be o.'ked to rent his room to the board, and the board agreed to do this.