H.—3l.

PART V.—NURSING. I have the honour to present my annual report for the year ending 31st March, 1940. This year has been a particularly busy and difficult one. In the early months a great deal of work was involved in preparation for the introduction of the maternity and hospital benefits under the Social Security Act. During the same period the Nursing Division was in close consultation with the New Zealand Registered Nurses' Association concerning the formation of a Nurses' Union and in the preparations being made for a Nurses' Centennial Conference, to which it was planned to invite Australian delegates, but which later had to be abandoned. Early in the year two Councils were set up as sub-committees of the Medical Committee of the Organization for National Security—a Nursing Council consisting of the Director, Division of Nursing, as Chairman ; Miss Willis, Matron-in-Chief of the Army Nursing Service ; and Miss Banks, of Palmerston North Hospital, representing the public hospital Matrons, and a Voluntary Aid Council consisting of the Nursing Council with a representative of the New Zealand Red Cross Society and the Commandery of St. John. The work of these two Committees is to be responsible for the organization of registered nurses and the training and organization of voluntary aids in time of national emergency. In September, with the outbreak of war, the work of these two Committees became intensified. Two senior members of the Nursing Staff retired during the year—Miss R. Mirams, Nurse Inspector in Auckland for many years, retired in September, and Miss J. Moore, who was in charge of the postgraduate course, terminated her duties with the course in January, 1940; the Hon. the Minister has, however, approved of her continuing in office attached to the Nursing Division to assist with the increased duties attached to this Division. Miss F. Cameron returned from abroad, having completed a year's study of medical social work in Canada and the United States of America, in October, and at the end of the year was appointed as the second Nurse Instructor for the post-graduate course. Miss R. Patterson was also attached to the staff at Head Office to be responsible for the organization of refresher courses for obstetric nurses and the inspection of maternity-training schools. There has been a large number of transfers of staff. Five nurses who had leave on pay completed their post-graduate course ; five others were granted leave for the current year. Three members of the nursing staff have left on active service—Miss H. M. Scott, Nurse Inspector, Palmerston North ; Miss Hubbard, District Nurse, Opotiki; and Miss 0. Friis, Hanmer Springs. General Hospitals. The attached table sets out the position in regard to the nursing staffs of training-schools in relation to the occupied bed rate of the hospitals. As will be seen, the occupied bed rate of the hospitals has steadily risen. The effect of the hospital benefit available under the Social Security Act has been to further extend this rate. This has resulted in a further rise in the number of nurses required to staff these hospitals. For a time the demand was so great that it was difficult to maintain the standard of applicant, but partly because of better propaganda and partly no doubt on account of the war this position has been largely remedied. Forced by difficulties in regard to accommodation, several Hospital Boards have adopted the living-out principle for the registered nursing staff, until at Auckland Hospital about 90 per cent., and at Wellington Hospital 80 per cent., live out. Many other hospitals are using the same principle with registered nurses. The staffs generally are happy and contented and like the freedom this life gives them. One or two hospitals are attempting to introduce the case method of nursing in certain departments. This is a most important step forward, and deserves every encouragement. When hospitals are very crowded it will not be possible in every ward, but it might be introduced in certain departments. I am impressed by the fact that the majority of training-schools are not using the excellent material in their out-patient departments to the extent which they might, the tendency being to use registered staff so as to avoid changes. With the policy of centralization another important aspect of teaching— the instruction in dietetics, both theoretical and practical—will require watching to ensure that adequate attention is given to this subject. A. Daily Average Occupied Beds for all Training-schools. 31st December, 1932 .. .. .. .. .. .. 3,981-72 31st December, 1933 .. .. .. .. .. .. 4,059-30 31st March, 1935* .. .. .. .. .. .. 4,220-05 31st March, 1936 .. .. .. .. .. .. 4,467-41 31st March, 1937 .. .. .. . . .. .. 4,734-85 31st March, 1938 .. .. .. .. .. .. 4,911-26 31st March, 1939 .. .. .. .. .. .. 4,981-39 31st March, 1940 .. .. .. .. .. .. 5,331-80

* Statistics changed from calendar to financial year.

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