NO DAY OFF A WEEK

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 142, 18 June 1931, Page 5

NO DAY OFF A WEEK

WANGANUI HOSPITAL NURSES BOARD AND HARD TIMES Yesterday’s meeting of the Wan ganui Hospital Board decided that the Medical Superintendent and the Matron at the Wanganui Hospital should en deavour to keep tho ratio of tho nursing staff to the number of patients as two nurses to five patients. Discussion started when Mr Rogers moved that the nursing staff should bo given one day off in seven. Mr Christensen said that ho considered that the matron should employ oi discharge staff as occasion demanded. It should bo a general instruction to the matron from the board. The ratio ac Taihape had been kept to strictly. Mr Simpson said that if other hospitals in the Dominion could allow their nuises one day off a week, why not the Wanganui Board? A report submitted by Dr Nelson. Medical Superintendent, stated that four extra, probationers were needed. Dr Skerman thought that the number of nurses to be employed should depend entirely on the number of patients in tho hospital. In reply to a question, tho chairman said that the nurses were entitled to three weeks’ holiday a year. Dr Nelson said that they have to get four more probationers to bring them up to working conditions. The other doctors of the city, ho thought, were giving the board their co-opera-tion and help in keeping the number of patients down. In reply to a question Dr Nelson said that it was his private opinion that when nurses did not need one day off a week. With regard to any extra sickness among the nurses he said that they were put off if even mildly ill. Dr Skerman remarked that doctors did not get a day off in seven.

Mr A. 8. Coleman said since the last meeting he had been talking to exnurses and they were of the opinion that nurses did not need one day off in seven. They had reason to believe that it was not in the best interests of the nursing staff to have one day off in seven.

To the best of his memory Auckland, Wellington aud Dunedin Hospitals gave one day off in seven, said Dr Nelson. Dr Skerman moved that tho numbei of nurses for the Wanganui Hospital should be 50, and in the event of any variation the number of patients in the hospital, tho matter should be brought before the board. Mrs Siddells seconded

Mr Christensen thought that such action would be quite wrong. They had a competent medical superintendent and matron and the onus of the number of nurses should be placed on them. They should be given a free hand to meet requirements. Ho moved as an amendment that the staffing of nurses be left entirely in the hands of the medical superintendent and the matron, that the number of nurses be kept as near as possible to two nurses to five patients. The motion was seconded. Mr Farley was in accordance with the amendment. The nurses they had were deep-thinking girls and they knew what the country was up against. They knew when things looked brighter the board would reconsider the matter. Mr C. W. Poynter supported tho amendment. When they had executives in positions of trust they should leave it to them and they would get far better results. In reply to Dr Mollie Christie, Dr Nelson said that the ratio of two nurses to five beds would not allow for a day off in seven. The chairman, Mr W. Broderick, thought that it would not be in the best interests of the hospital if they fixed the number of nurses. The amendment was put and carried.