NURSES ON LEAVE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25514, 19 April 1944, Page 7

NURSES ON LEAVE

NO TRAVELLING PERMITS WAITAKI HOSPITAL BOARD’S PROTEST Describing the position as farcical, Mr H. C. Jeffery entered a strong protest at the Waitaki Hospital Beard meeting vesterdav against the Government's refusal to grant travelling permits to -nurses on holiday leavp. He said that nurses should be put. on the same footing as tiie military.

It. was reported that a letter had been sent bv the secretary (Mr W. M. Richardson) to the Hospital Boards’ Association pointing cut that difficulty was being experienced in regard to holiday leave for resident medical and nursing staffs, owing to the fact that no permits to travel could be obtained. The association was asked to take the matter up with the appropriate authorities. Mr Jeffery said that the hotels were full with guests who were travelling on holiday, and it appeared that “ wires were being pulled ” somewhere. He quoted the cases of a Government official on holiday and two girls who, he said, went on holiday to Wellington. Half the expresses, he said, were travelling half empty. A strong protest should be made. Mrs Munro and Mr James Rodman supported Mr Jeffery, and Dr Bevan Brown (medical superintendent) said that the homes of many nurses were away from Oamaru.

The board decided to forward copies of its letter to the Hospital Boards’ Association, to the Acting Prime Minister (Mr D. G. Sullivan), and the Minister of Health (Mr A. H. Nordmeyer).