URGENTLY NEEDED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 172, 23 July 1942, Page 6

URGENTLY NEEDED

NURSING RECRUITS

VITAL WAR SERVICE

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, this day.

The urgent need for more recruits for the nursing profession was emphasised to-day by the Director-Gen-eral of Health, Dr. M. H. Watt, who expressed serious concern for the future unless immediate additions were made to the ranks of nurses.

He referred to the extra demands upon the nursing service brought about by the war. Two thousand nursing recruits were needed each year in training schools. He pointed out that while training these nurses were doing vital war work in nursing the sick and wounded from overseas, and helping to maintain the physical stamina of the civilian on the home front. Nursing was an essential service, and while performing a community task of untold value, a nurse was fitting herself for an interesting and well-paid career. The Department was anxious that as manv girls as possible would come forward. He also pointed out that the hospital service was expanding as a result of social security benefits, and there was a corresponding demand on the nursing service. The situation was not ye" critical but, unless proper provision could be made for inevitable expansion in the future, it would quickly become so. The time to make provision was now.