Hospital Hours.

Thames Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 19826, 1 October 1936, Page 3

Hospital Hours.

, BOARD'S i ... PALMERSTON NORTH CONCERN.. LARGER STAFF REQUIRED. ■ (By Telegraph—Press Association). PALMERSTON N., Oct. 1. The Palmerston North Hospital Board has-decided that a 44-hour week shall be introduced in its institutions at as early a date as possible. To bring this about, it will be necessary for a large increase to be made in the staff. .. -.■■-. Extra accommodation is to be provided for the resident staff, especially at Palmerston North Hospital. Until substantial additions to the nurses' hojne, which', the board has already decided upon, are completed, it will not be possible to ensure that the nursing- staff's hours are^reduced to 44. It is proposed immediately to take steps to appoint 1G additional nurses to the staff at the hospital,

Apart from .the Palmerston North Hospital, additions to -.the staff are necessary at other.institutions under, the control of the board and, in-r eluding all branches, a total-of 37, additional members will be engaged. Where it is not practicable to reduce hburs, more particularly for the staff employed on the board's farms and for the, ambulance- drivers, the annual leave period is to increased as a recompense for the longer hours. The immediate . : cost will be in the vicinity of £SOOO a year for wages, and, in addition to this, further capital expenditure will be necessary. •