HOSPITAL NURSES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 14051, 22 July 1916, Page 4

HOSPITAL NURSES.

RESIGNATIONS FROM STAFF. The resignations of three members of the nursing staff, viz, Sisters Buxton, Young, and Dawson were placed before the Hospital Board last evening. Dr. Collins pointed out that Sister Buxton came from' Australia;, and at .ffome expense to ihfe' Board, and it would be a pity t-o lose the services' -of these nurses. He understood Sisters Dawson and Buxton would be pleased to state their cases to the Board, as the" treatment meteel out to them had n6t met with their approval. He asked the; privilege be granted them, as both were smarting under an; injustice. Mr McCliskie: They have not' asked; for an enquiry; Dr. Collins.: I am asking that on their behalf. The Chairman : Have you their authority? ' ' Dr. Collins i-eplied that one of the! nurses had rung- -him > up on the 'phoneonly that evening, and had -authorised; him to do so on her behalf. He moved the privilege be granted, remarking that one of the nurses was leaving to be married. Mr K-e,nway • eStpresSe'd the hope that ; the Board would do nothing to undermine the authority aftd control of the Matron; otherwise -it would have a disastrous effect upon the discipline' of the hospital. The Matron's authority w;i.s erlear. and for any nurses to come to theBoard and 'for the- Board to force tho Matron to take them, back would not be fair to the Matron. They had a good Matron. anc| one to be proud of, and ha hoped they would do nothing to over-ridei her Authority.. Ma* Holden seconded the motion. Mr Bright moved as an amendment that thei resignations be accepted, remarking he would N be loath to' make more strife, and trouble at the hospital. There appeared to be a marked' change in the control and discipline of the institution, and he was strongly opposed to the recurrence of any further trouble. Mr Jex-Blake said that up till recently the institution- '"was" working harmoniously, but the last few weeks he regretted there had been evidence of unrest. There was much regret that Sister Buxton was leaving. Mr McCliskie saul he considered that th* nurses having sent in their resignations, it would be very unwise for the Board to open Up the matter. The Chairman said he would Support the amendment, because if any member ri; the staff had any protest td make, it shduld be made through the proper channel., There being no protest, he Considered that the" resignations would have to be accepted. - Dr." Collins said if 'the.v took up the attitude suggested, £h en " they assumed that 'the matron |\vas infa.llable, .and they were creating a position that nurses were to have ho right of appeal. He could near out , that there was great unrest, and if the Board persisted in this"attitude they would have a storm breaking over their heads again. The, Chairman remarked that he had heard of no complaints. _ . Dr. Collins replied that because of the fact that the . Chairman was hot aAvafe of complaints it did not prove' there were no complaints. It was for the Board to make it clear to the nursing staff how complaints .were to be made, Dut to say ■: that a. nurse was hot to have an opportunity of voicing any complaint to the Board, because the discipline ot! the hospital would be endangered, was absurd. Their trouble in the past had been too lax administration, but their present trouble was that it was too rigid. ■Mr. Lewis suggested, that the matron should be asked to give a reason for these resignations/ as lie personally was quite, in the dark. ) Dr. Collins , said he wished the Board' to understand that he knew of no complaint, but that the sisters only wished to make .a. statement to the Board. On going to the vote the amendment ; was carried, Dr. Collins and Mr'Holdert ! being in;, the negative. Messrs Jex- ] Blake and Lewis refrained from voting. Mr Lewis urged that in future the ; matron be asked to supply a reason for .resignations. He intimated he would move to this effect next meeting. ' ;