NEW SALARY SCALES AND EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS FOR HOSPITAL WORKERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26963, 24 December 1948, Page 8

NEW SALARY SCALES AND EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS FOR HOSPITAL WORKERS

PA WELLINGTON, Dec. 23,

By amendments to the Hospital Employment Regulations gazetted to-night, new salary scales and conditions of employment are provided far several classes of hospital board employees.

s ’'New scales for X-ray workers, comprising radiographers, student radiographers, and dark room technicians, are to operate from April 1, 1948. The salary for a qualified male radiographer commences at £325 for the first year, rising to £550 in the eighth yfcar, and in certain circumstances rtiay proceed beyond that point to radiographers the scale ranges from £325 in the first year to a maximum of £525 in the seventh year. Unqualified radiographers commence at £155 *nd rise to £450 in the tenth year, but special provision is made for those who had completed 10 years’ practical experience on December 31, 1947. and who were at that time not under 35 shears of age. They may proceed on by increments of £25 to a maximum of £550. This provision is designed to meet the case of those who had not a reasonable opportunity of obtaining recognised qualifications, but had had lengthy experience. Additional amounts ranging from £25 to £75 are payable to radiographers in charge positions. £ Rates for student are: Erst year, £155; second year, £215; third year, £250. Rates; for darkroom technicians over 21 years of age range frbm £3OO by annual increments of £25 to £425. A radiographer on call for seven or more consecutive days receives an allowance at the rate of 10s per week for the period on call. For work outside ordinary hours a radiographer is entitled to time off or, at the discretion of the board, may be paid special overtimes rates. X-ray workers are to receive 28 days’ annual leave.

Dietitians For dietitians in charge at the Auckland or Wellington Hospitals the scale is £550 to £650 by annual increments of £25- In the case of

other hospitals the salary of the dieti- ' tian in charge is determined according . to the average number of occupied beds. Over 500 beds the scale is £465 (.minimum) to £515 (maximum); 300 to 500, the scale is £445 (minimum) to £475 (maximum) 200 to 300 beds the scale is £425 (minimum) to £475 (maximum). Except in the case, of the Auckland and Wellington Hospitals, an additional £75 per annum is payable for the dietitian in charge of an institution which is a training school for dietitians, and an additional £4O per annum for a dietitian in . charge of an institution which is a training school for housekeeping sisters. Various lower scales are provided for first assistant dietitians, second assistant dietitians and dietitians in nurses’ homes, down to the lowest scale for a qualified dietitian of £325 to £345 (maximum). Student dietitians who. before commencing the course, must have either the qualification of a registered nurse or be the holder of a degree or diploma in home science, commence ' at £285 for the first year, rising to £305 in the final year by £2O increments. Provision is made for the payment of overtime on a similar basis to that provided for nurses that is to say, where the hours per week usually exceed 40, an allowance equal to 5 per cent of salary for excess hours up to 2i,.7i per cent, where the excess hours are over 2\ but under 4, and 10 per cent, where they are 4 or more. The new scales are retrospective to October 1, 1947. Physiotherapists

A new scale for physiotherapists is introduced as from October 1, 1948, in substitution for the scale that has been in operation since October 1, 1947.' It provides for a staff physiotherapists’ scale of £325 (minimum) to £425 (maximum) by £2O increments as against the previous scale of £320 (minimum) to £3BO (maximum) by £2O increments. The scales for pupil teachers at a school of physiotherapy are correspondingly increased M range from £345 to £445 by £2O increments. There are improvements in the salaries of all other physiotherapists, but the general conditions of employment remain as previously provided. A new provision has been made which Will enable a hospital board, with the approval of the Minister, to make an allowance for previous experience in a similar capacity in overseas hospitals, etc., in determining the commencing salary of an employee. Hitherto the only previous service recognised for this purpose was connected service in the employ of a hospital board, a separate institution or the Crown. Medical Officers Certain classes of medical officers, namely house surgeons and registrars, are dealt with by another amendment which is retrospective to April 1, 1948. The salary of a first-year house surgeon is £325, second year £425, and third year £475. Where a house surgeon is employed at an institution of less than 150 occupied beds the controlling board may pay an additional £SO per annum on these rates. The rate for a junior registrar is £550 (minimum) to £6OO (maximum) by one increment of £SO, and that of a senior registrar is £650 (minimum) to £750 (maximum) by two increments of £SO. House surgeons and registrars - are entitled to be provided without charge with board and lodging or to be paid certain living out allowances. Annual leave of 28 days is allowed.