THAMES HOSPITAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23040, 18 May 1938, Page 19

THAMES HOSPITAL

ACCOMMODATION TAXED NURSES' WAGES QUESTION PROBLEMS FOR THE BOARD [bt TELEGRAPH OWN correspondent] THAMES, Tuesday The question of the increase in nursing sisters' salaries at the Thames Hospital was discussed by the board at its meeting to-dav. The matter was brought up by the resignation of tho night sister. Mr. N. Danbv said it had to be recognised that if the board desired to retain its senior staff it would have to meet competition from other institutions He had noticed advertisements recently calling for applications for similar positions much in advance of salaries paid by the Thames board. The chairman, Mr. P. JJrenan. agreed that the time had arrived when the board must meet outside competition. Tho scale laid down by the department must be thrown overboard. The matter was left to the stall committee to ari<ange in accordance with tho wishes of the board. Referring to the altered conditions in the hospital district, the chairman said that it was evident that more staff was lequired. There were more patients and the staff was being overworked. Mr. G. W. Kennedy considered that charges would have to go up. Mr. C. W. Parfitt said there was no available accommodation for extra nurses and even the balconies of the nurses' homo were in use as bedrooms. Mr. Danby, referring to the recent enlargements of the wards by glassed-in verandahs, said that these were constructed for convalescent patients, but even before these were finished they were used for extra beds to accommodate patients. The hospital's equipment was strained to the utmost. The chairman said he could see no other course than to engage more staff. The old average was about 60 patients; now it was over 90. The staff committee was authorised to go into the position, with power to act. It was suggested also that suitable patients could be transferred to the Waihi and Coromandel Hospitals if the demand for beds increased. Heports from the Waihi Hospital, stated the chairman, showed that the public were making greater use of tho institution. This vindicated the board's action in making certain changes in the medical appointments. It was evident that these had been appreciated.