A MATRON'S POWERS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10103, 15 March 1911, Page 3

A MATRON'S POWERS.

FURTHER DISCUSSION AT HOSPITAL BOARD. CONTROL OF~NURSES CAUSES FRICTION. At to-day's meeting of the Hospital Board, Mrs E. W. Cunnington moved to rescind the motion passed at the last meeting, held in Ashburton, appointing the matron of the Christchurch Hospital matron of the nursing staff of all the Board's institutions, and that sho should resume her former status. Mrs Cunnington aaid that sho approached the matter not on any captious or fussy spirit, but because the subject was of the deepest importance to the Board and the public at large. It was essential to find a system of management that would ensuro two objects, namely, a smooth and effective administration of the Board's institutions, and the well-being and comfort of the inmates. To achieve these objects there were two systems of management possible, first of all, the system of centralisation, where all the Board's homes were subject and accountable to certain officers of the general Hospital; and, secondly, the system of decentralisation, which she might call Home Rule, or autonomous government in each institution, where the trained nurse in ohargo took the name of matron and was subject only to the medical officer in charge and the Board. The Board was now working under, the first system, which she ventured to suggest would fail. It did not make the administration smooth and effective, because it overworked and overweighted the chief administrator, the matron, and either the matron or the work would suffer. It, tended to confusion of authorities and in administrative details, as it was impossible to lay down margins and frontiers or separate domestic details and hygienic and sanitary details. The well-being of the inmates would not be achieved, because the present system of sending a nurse to any given home by reason of her seniority in the general Hospital narrowed the Board's field of choice, and compelled the Board to take a nurse who might not be the most suitable. She suggested that each home should bo a self-governing institution. Mrs W. Enßom seconded the motion.

Mr 11. Moore suggested- that he would support the motion if the last clause were omitted, and it was loft open to the Board to say how the nurses should be controlled. He still considered that the matron should appoint all nurses, but the heads of each institution should be controlled. Mrs Ounningtcii agreed to withdraw the last portion of her motion. Mr Sorense.ii suggested that a letter from the matron should b» read, but tho Rev W. J. L. Closs strongly objected, stating that the Board was already directed and controlled by its paid officials, and no letter should be read unless the Board had' asked for it. Mr W. W. Tanner said that he would support the motion, because the Ashburton motion had been informal and illegal and contrary to the by-laws, because notice had not been given of it.

Mr 0. Allison said that to carry Mrs Cunnington's motion would be a retrograde step, because it had been found that the best nursing was not obtained unless the nurses had training in the various institutions. The system should be continued unless the Board wished to have unqualified nurses. The matron should have control of the nurses so long as she did not interfere with the general management. The chairman (Mr F. Horrell) suggested that the system should be given a good trial, as it at least ensured the speedy filling of all vacancies. The idea was to move the nurses about only for short periods. Mr H. B. Sorensen said that the trouble was caused by the merging of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards and the enlarging of the staffs, but it would soon bo overoo-me. The Rev W. J. L. Closs asked if the Board had no power to direct or overrule the matron in any way. The chairman, in reply, asked Mr Closs if he thought that the members of the Board, as laymen, understood the requirements of the institution better than the matron. Mr Closs said that the Board should have power to say, for instance, that it required two nurses for the Samaritan Home. Mr Tanner said _ that the nurses would go if they wished to go. Mrs Wilson said that it would not be wise to overturn the system which was working Avell. Mr O. Cook said that Mrs Cunningtoil had not made out any charges against anybody, and had not shown that the institutions, were being mismanaged. He believed in one head, and the matron should have the power of appointment to all the institutions. Mr J. Davison said that the syste:u had not had sufficient time to be tried, and when friction occurred it would be time enough to change. Mr J. 5. Hall, said that Mrs Cunnington's experience and vigilance should almost convince tho Board that she was right in advocating an alteration in the system for the well-being of tho inmates. He moved that the matter should be referred to the Policy Committee, and that Mrs Cunningtoh should be added to the committee. Mr Closs seconded the motion. Mr Sorensen said that the amendment was a waste of time. la the course of the discussion the chairman said that no complaints of friction had been made to the committees.

The amendment and motion wexe both lost by ten votes to five. Subsequently the following letter was received from the matron: "In reference to Mrs Cunnin eton's notice of motion re nursing at institutions, may I be permitted to tell you bow important it is 'that so long as sanatorium and infirmary wards of the Tuarangi and Jubilee Homes are staffed from the nurses in training at the Ghristchurch Hospital, those nurses sent should be under the' immediate discipline and control of the matron of the base hospital who is responsible for their training and future examinations, and that in each case the sister or senior nurse should be one in whom the matron has the greatest confidence, and knowledge that her orders and regulations will be carried out. Under the best conditions, the staff being so small at these institutions, the nurses necessarily lose some discipline, as wo find on their return to hospital. How much more so would this eventuate were they under the control of untrained persons who have absolutely no knowledge of the skill and requirements of modern nursing? Are the members of committee also aware that nurses, although on duty at the various institutions, have to attend lectures at the Hospital? And for this reason, in sending them I select those who can come at the most convenient hours, both from thoir work and teaching point of view. Those same lectures are arranged for by me each week. It is obvious that charge of these institutions, or, rather, the nursing part, considerably- increases my duties and responsibilities, but, seeing the necessity for the well-being and economical nursing of same. I willingly undertake it. Supposing these institutions are cut adrift from the Hospital and staffed with outside nurses, you would find it necessary to pay higher salaries to induce nurses to take up for indefinite periods the duties of nursing chronics. As to probationers, they naturally would not go, as it would not in any way help them to obtain the prize of the profession, namely, the certificato; and to staff with all certificated nurses would necessitate an increase of salaries for those institutions and still not perform requirements, as probationers' work will never be undertaken by staff nurses. Jubilee Home was formerly staffed with two certificated nurses at £65 each, and four probationers at 10s a week each. Now one certificated nurse at £65, one probationer at £l2 and two at 10s each weekly.—l am, youre faithfully, M. Thurston.