HOSPITAL STAFF HOURS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22579, 18 November 1936, Page 15

HOSPITAL STAFF HOURS

PROPOSED SHORTER WEEK THE FINANCIAL ASPECT The fart that the introduction of the 40-hour week for the staff of the Auckland Hospital would involve the hoard in an extra expenditure of .L22.0G0 a year was mentioned by the chairman, the Hcv. W. C. Wood, at a meeting of the hoard yesterday, when a letter on the subject was received from the Department of Health. In reply to a request for consideration of the financial as|iect of introducing the 10-hour week, (lie department asked for a detailed scheme showing how it was proposed to introduce a 'lO-hour week for all members of the nursing staff, taking a typical ward as an example. The chairman said that the department had rather sidestepped the question. ft had not commented 011 the expense and had made no proper reply to the financial side of the question, which was troubling the board very much, if the board were to introduce automatically a 40-hour week it would involve an extra expenditure of £22,000 a year. The figures had been supplied to the department for comment. Mr. K. 11. l'otter said the Government had established a basic wage and had also decided on a 40-hour week, which merchants and traders had decided to give effect to at some cost and sacrifice. If there was any institution in the world that should be treated liberally it. was the nursing staff of a hospital. Because tlio Government had established a. 40-hour week and a basic wage, he considered the board should give effect to it. It was decided to accede to the department's request.