WORK OF NURSES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21165, 23 April 1932, Page 12

WORK OF NURSES.

ALLEGATIONS IN THE HOUSE.

FURTHER REFUTATION MADE.

HOURS OF DUTY AND MEALS. " There is one feature of the allegations made in the House of Representatives by Mr. A. S. Richards against the administration of tlio Auckland Hospital which I cannot understand, and that is why did not Mr. Richards convey his complaints to Mr. M. J. SaVage, a fellow member of the Labour Party, who is not only a member of the Hospital Board but is also on the board's house committee," said Sir. W. Wallace, chairman of the Hospital Board, yesterday. He made a further statement refuting allegations made in Parliament by Mr. Richards that nurses at the hospital were being worked as many as 12 hours a day and the food they were provided with was " disgraceful." Mr. Wallace said he had conferred with the lady superintendent at the hospital, Miss E. N. Nutsoy, who had informed him that no complaints regarding either hours or food had been made. Mr. Wallace said he had never heard any complaint, while none of the other hospital authorities had received protests. If any complaints had been mado they would have been investigated immediately.

" The nurses are a group of wonderful girls who frequently volunteer for extra duty when the occasion arises," continued Mr. Wallace. " 1 have known them to be so interested in their patients that they have stayed on for hours without being asked to do so. In my opinion, nurses who are not willing to undertake extra duties when their services are needed are not worthy of being members of their profession." An eight-hour day had been introduced in the hospital and this was being maintained except in cases of girls who were undergoing special operating theatre training. While it was true that nurses had been subject to the 10 per cent, wage reduction, no decrease had been made in their board allowance, a step which had been taken by other local authorities with respect to their employees. " As far as the question of food goes, Mr. Richards' statements are scandalous and untrue," concluded Mr. Wallace. " I am quite familiar with the meals nurses are provided with, and they are excellent."

•" The statements made by Air. Richards came as a great surprise to me and other members of the staff," stated Miss Nutsey, who said nurses usually worked eight hours a day, with one day a week off. Sisters received four weeks' holiday on full pay and nurses three weeks' leave. As far as training work in tho operating theatre waji concerned, the hours averaged from 9 to 10 a day. but nurses were /»u.\ious to do this duty, as they knew that it was necessary for them to undertake the greatest amount of tiainmg possible.