WOMEN FOR EGYPT

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24134, 28 November 1941, Page 4

WOMEN FOR EGYPT

YV v/J>iC;i>( run. nuiii Sir.-'-Your correspondent "Nurses in Training" lias put into writing the feelings of many nurses who are only semi-trained or are still in training. Nurses who have had months of rigid training and are now in hospitals or doing private work must surely be more qualified to go overseas, and assist our trained staff, than V.A.D.'s who have had no experience in obeying orders under all circumstances and have but 60 hours' hospital duty in their training. Is it not possible for these women, partly trained and with several years' experience, to be given their chance to serve with the forces? Semi-Trained. Sir, —It is with disappointment that. I read of "Nurses in Training" and "Nurse's" criticisms of the decision to send nursing aids overseas. It may not be widely known that many of us have been attending lectures and meetings regularly from as early as March, 1039. Besides giving up one week of their annual leave to enter the hospital for training, many of the girls nominated have completed anything up to 650 hours or more at the emergency hospitals, working day and night duty, and some members have given up their week-ends also to help at these hospi-tals—-and all this long before any talk of sending voluntary aids overseas. Does "Nurse," who has had six years' experience, wish to suggest that there are only the two jobs for a nurse—one to make beds and the. other to assist at operations? From my short but most instructive experience in a big hospital, I know there is much one of mv experience and training can do to release the jnore experienced and lully trained nurses to do the bigger jobs. Does "Nurse" for one moment doubt Miss E. M. Nutsey's wisdom in her decision to ask for voluntary aids to be sent "over there," or that of the military authorities in using valuable transport space to get them there? We cannot all go, but those who are selected have a big and hard job of work ahead, and I say "Good on their ■ pluck, and the best of luck go with • 1 them." .One of the Nominees,