CIVIL NURSING RESERVE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 307, 30 December 1942, Page 3

CIVIL NURSING RESERVE

ESTABLISHED IN DOMINION (P.A.) Oamaru, Dec. 29. The Minister of Health. Hon. A. H. Nordmieyer, who is spending the holidays in Oamaru, announced today that in view of difficulties experienced by hospital boards, particularly small ones, in securing nursing staffs, Cabinet has approved 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 ot both registered nurses and voluntary aids and will form a poo] from which may be drawn nurses for the stalling of tempore.i v '. ice hospitals as well as for th” > ' ion of temporary nursing as i . -at ordinary public hospitals. The reserve will be supplementary to the regular staffs of the hospital boards and the Department of Health. “Staff reciuirements of hospitals constantly fluctuate and under pre.‘ont. conditions the authorities of each hospital during periods of reduced demand must each retain a surplus staff or run lhe risk of being unable to obtain additional staff when the need arises,” said the Minister “The reserve is intended to me- t these ••rm t tan'ly fluctuating staff requirements and it will offer continuiiv employment of a large bodv of registered nurse:; and voluntary aids who are willing to serve in nursing capacity in any part of the country. “Rales of pay, out allowances, leave provisions, and general conditions of service have been fixed to make them as attractive as possible. Travelling expenses and uniform allowance will be granted. Each hospital board availing itself of the services of members of the reserve will be repaired to reimburse the department for the reservists’ pay for the actual period of service with the board. Applications will be called for by advertisement early in the N°w Year, when forms of application and conditions of service will be obtainable from regional nursing officers of the Health Department.