NURSES WANTED.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20540, 15 February 1935, Page 8

NURSES WANTED.

Matron’s Letter to Waihi Hospital Board. (Special to the “ Star.”) AUCKLAND, This Day. Referring to dissension in the Waihi Hospital Board at a meeting of the board, Mr C. Copestake said that reports of meetings had been broadcast from North Cape to Bluff. The hospital had a very bad name, and consequently could not obtain a decent nurse. If the matron, he said, treated nurses better and showed more tact, it would make it easier for all concerned.

These remarks followed the reading of a letter from the matron, Miss M. K. Stevenson, who referred to difficulties in securing the services of a trained staff. The more efficient nurses, she pointed out, were not available, and very few of those appointed were capable of taking theatre work. Referring to the rather drab life of a nurse, the matron contended that social amenities were not extended to nurses by the public, and that their spare time was principally spent in the nurses’ home or at the pictures. With a view to offering better inducement, she suggested the appointment of three, staff nurses at a salary of £9O per annum. Mr J. Kemp: One thing I cannot understand is if these nurses are no good how do they obtain their certificates ? On the motion of the acting chairman, Mr A. T. Maunder, it was decided to receive the matron’s letter and take no action. Prior to this' discussion Mr Kemp wanted to know the date and particulars of the dismissal of a certain nurse. The board, he protested, had not been notified, and it was time the board put a stop, to this sort of thing. At this juncture another member referred to the case as one where a nurse had resigned. Mr Kemp: That is a polite way of announcing a dismissal. Further discussions followed on the question of dismissals and suspensions, but the chairman said he was not prepared, in the absence of the medical superintendent, to allow further comment.