ASYLUM NURSES AND ATTENDANTS. THE NEW REGULATIONS. WELLINGTON, December 23.

Otago Witness, Issue 2650, 28 December 1904, Page 81

ASYLUM NURSES AND ATTENDANTS. THE NEW REGULATIONS. WELLINGTON, December 23.

New regulations with respect to asylum nurses and attendants provide that applicants for those offices must not be under 21 years of' age, and must ha^e passed Standard V in the public schools or must hold a certificate of al least equal value, or must pass such examination as may be prescribed. The first three months of service are probationary, and a probationer may be dispensed with during that period if judged unsatisfactory, but if satisfaction has been given a permanent appointment to the staff will b© made dating Irom the day of entering the service. The scale of salaries for nurses starts at the original £40, but will be increased by yearly increments of £5 to a maximum salary of £55^per annum, -instead of the old increments of £2 10s and a maximum of £45. Attendants well be started at £75 per annum, rising by yearly increments of £5 to a maximum of £95, instead of the original maximum of £80. Artisan attendants engaged in special works will be paid such salaries as may be approved by the Minister. Charge nurses and charge attendants will be selected -from nurses and attendants in the department. In making a selection good conduct, general efficiency, and interest displayed in work will have greater weight than seniority. _ The salaries of charge nurses will begin at £60 per annum, instead of £45, and will rise by yearly increments of £5, instead of £2 10s, to a maximum of £70, in place of the original £60. Charge attendants will start at £100, instead of £80, and rise by the old yearly increments of £5 to a maximum of £120, instead of the original £100. The salaries of nurses and attendants now in the service, if at the present maximum, will proceed by a £5 yearly rise to the new maximum, and the salaries of charge nurses and charge attendants now in the service, if beiow the new minimum, will bei raised to that figure as from Ist January, 1905. Head attendants will be selected from charge attendants, but the salary will vary with the size of the Ebspital and other circumsances. The present .maximum is £14s per annum, with the usual allowances. In selecting a matron, other things being equal, preference will be gi.ven to a registered nurse (" The Nurses' Registration Act, 1901"), who has had the added advantage of training in a mental hospital. The salary of a matron will vary with the size of the 1 hospital and other circumstances. The present maximum is £120, with the usual allowances^ Except when suitable accommodation. is provided by the department, married attendants who have been in the _ ser/vice for not less than two years shall be entitled to a bouse allowance, according to locality, not exceeding £20 per annum. The hours of duty shall bet6.3o a.m. to 5.30 p.m., and 6.30 a.m. to 8 p.m. 'on alternate days. On Sundays or for special duties and under special circumstances these hours arei subject to variation. Provision is also made for holidays.