THE WELLINGTON HOSPITAL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 839, 30 March 1888, Page 18

THE WELLINGTON HOSPITAL.

TO THE EDITOR OE THE NEW ZEALAND MAIL. Sir, — Will you allow me a small space in your paper for a few words on behalf of the nurses of the Wellington Hospital 1 I see that one of the Trustees is most indignant at. the consideration shown to these ladies, and he is not alone in these ideas, as from what I hoar I think the popular opinion seems to be that they are decidedly pampered and have very “good times’’ generally, with a large salary in exchange for small services. It is my good fortune to know personally most of the ladies working in the Hospital, and I havo not the least hesitation in saying that t|iey have more work, and that of a more Trying nature, than any maid-of-all-work I have ever seen, as it is at the same time responsible and menial, requiring an amount of selfdenial, patience, and devotion to perform. The thanks of every citizen are due to Mr Dick, the late Colonial Secretary, who instituted the present system of lady nurses, for to their untiring exertions is due, in a great measure, the high position that our Hospital holds in New Zealand. Surely the least the Trustees can do is to see that wheu off duty they have some small amount of comfort;. I know that in the new wing each nurse Ims a bedroom to herself, but it i 3 little larger than a steamer’s cabin, without a fireplace, and one that they could not possibly make into a sitting-room. Taking, the room which was built for their litting-room may be very necessary for the patients, but it is much to be regretted that this was not thought of when the plans were drawn, so that the nurses might have had some rooms to call their owu. It is not unreasonable to suppose that unless these ladies have some of the considerations shown to them that they have been accustomed to, and which is clearly their due, that others will not bo found willing to take up this most important branch of woman’s work, and that it will drift into tho hands of an inferior clas3, who will be content to render inferior services, to the disgust of doctors and patients, and the decline of the Hospital generally.—l am, &c., C.K.

Wellington, March 28,