CIVIL NURSING RESERVE

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22472, 6 January 1943, Page 3

CIVIL NURSING RESERVE

Service Where Required

Establishment Approved

The Minister of Health, Hon. A. H. Nordmeyer, in an announcement said that, in view of the difficulties experienced by hospital boards, particularly the smaller ones, in securing nursing staffs, the Cabinet had approved of the establishment of a civil nursing reserve for the Dominion. The reserve, .which will be under the control of the nursing division of the Health Department, will consist of both registered nurses and voluntary aids, and will form a pool from which may be drawn nurses for the staffing of temporary hospitals for the services as well as for the provision of temporary nursing assistance at ordinary public hospitals. The reserve will be supplementary to the regular staffs of hospital boards and the Department of Health. “The staff requirements of hospitals constantly fluctuate,” Mr Nordmeyer said, “and under present conditions the authorities of each hospital, during periods of reduced demand, must either retain surplus staff or run the risk of being unable to obtain additional staff when the need arises. The reserve is intended to meet these constantly fluctuating staff requirements, and it will offer continuity of employment to a large body of registered nurses and voluntary aids who are willing to serve in a nursing capacity in any part of the country. Rates of pay, living-out allowances, leave provisions, and general conditions of service have been fixed to make them as attractive as possible. Travelling expenses and a uniform allowance will be granted.

“Each hospital board availing itself of the services of members of the reserve,” the Minister concluded, "will be required to reimburse the department for the reservist’s pay for the actual period of service with the board. Applications will be called for early in the new year, when forms of application and conditions of service will be obtainable from regional nursing officers or the Health Department.”