TRAINING OF NURSES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20405, 6 November 1929, Page 12

TRAINING OF NURSES.

PRIVATE HOSPITAL STATUS.

AMENDMENT OF THE ACT. OPPOSITION TO PROPOSALS. [BY TELEGRAPH. —SrECIATi REPORTER-] WELLINGTON, Tuesday. It will bo competent for approved private hospitals to become training centres .for probationer nurses desiring to sit for the State examinations if the Nurses and Mid wives Registration Amendment Bill is passed by the House of Representatives this session. Hie bill is a simple one, extending the definition of hospitals to include private as well as public institutions. The Nurses and Midwives Registration Board, established by the Act of 1925, comprises the Director-General of Health, the director of the division of nursing, a medical practitioner appointed on the recommendation of the Minister of Health, a registered nurse, and a registered midwifo, the two last-named being appointed on the recommendation of the New Zealand Trained Nurses' Association. This board has th/ function of determining the courses of training for candidates for examination as nurses, midwives and maternity nurses, and of approving hospitals at which training may be received.

"The purpose of the bill is really to remove til© statutory 'jar preventing private hospitals being considered on their merits as training institutions," said the Minister of Health, the Hon. A. J. Stallworthy, in an interview to-day, "It wilt bo competent for the registration board to consider such applications from private hospitals and to take steps to prevent any lowering in status. We are at present in this invidious position, that wc have a number of public hospitals as training institutions which arc considerably smaller than some private hospitals. In granting applications from private hospitals the board can Jay down any requirements it likes, and it is suggested that no private hospital with less than 40 beds should be considered.''

It is considered that among the private hospitals likely to take advantage of the proposed legislation if passed will he the Mater Miserieordiae Hospital, Auckland, the Lewisham and Bowcn Street Hospitals,, Wellington, and the Lewisham and St. George's Hospitals, Cliristchurch. There are indications that the bill will not have a smooth passage. The New Zealand Trained Nurses' Association is particularly concerned at the proposals. A deputation representing the association waited on tho Minister of Health lasL week seeking the postponement of the bill until next session. One ground of objection is the fear that the inclusion of hospitals run for gain as training institutions will prejudice the reciprocal arrangement. New Zealand has with Great Britain: It was generally urged by the deputation that further time should be given for consideration of the effects of the proposals.

Asked to-day whether it was intended to press the measure this session, the Minister-said he was Jiopeful'of the bill being passed this "week;