SHORTAGE OF PROBATIONER NURSES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3403, 4 June 1919, Page 61

SHORTAGE OF PROBATIONER NURSES.

The difficulty of obtaining the services of probationer nurses in the Dunedin Hospital is causing serious anxiety to the matron and to the members of the Hospital Board. A recent report by the matron showed that instead of there being 128 nurses in the institution there were only 91, and that she was endeavouring to secure the services of V.A.D. workers as a means of overcoming the difficulty. From inquiries made by a Daily Times reporter it would appear that the trouble is due to various causes, principally the parsimonious policy of the Hospital Board, the internal control of the institution, the strenuous nature of the work demanded from probationers, and the shortage of female labour. Since 1912 various increases have been made in the salaries of the nursing staff, and the following are the present salary rates: — Matron, Dunedin Hospital, £260 to £275 ; sub-matron, Dunedin Hospital, £l5O to £175; matron, Pleasant Valley Sanatorium, £150; home sister, Dunedin Hospital, £l3O to £135; sub-matron, infirmary wing, Caversham, £125 to £130; matron, Maternity Hospital, £125 to £135; tuberculosis nurse, £125 to £135; night sister, Dunedin Hospital, £l2O to £125; theatre sister, Dunedin Hospital, £l2O to £125; senior surgical sister, £120; senior medical sister, £l2O : X-ray sister, £100; out-patient sister, £100; superintending sister, Fever Hospital, £IOO to £135; fifter.Maternity Hospital, £IOO to £110; matiE.T. Kaitangata Hospital, £9O to £100; matrio, Port Chalmers Hospital, £9O to £IOO : matron, Tapanui Hospital, £IOO to £110; matron, Tuapeka Hospital, £BS to £IOO Ward sisters: Third-year sister, £IOO to £110; second-year sister, £9O to £100; first-year sister £BO to £9O. Nurses: Fourth year (subject to having passed State examination), £SO to £6O; third year, £3O to £4O; second year, £25 to £3O; first year, £2O to £26.

When the past character of a man found guilty before the Supremo Court at Inver*argill for an offence was being searched, the Crown Prosecutor mentioned that the I prisoner had previous!]' been convicted for

being <?;, licensed premises after hours. "Any one of us might be found guilty on such a charge,” declared his Honor, ‘‘and I really attach little or no importance to it.”