NEW CHILDREN’S WARD

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 37, 22 January 1946, Page 5

NEW CHILDREN’S WARD

URGENT HOSPITAL NEED

STAFF SHORTAGE AFFECTS POSITION

The only matter arising from the visiting committee’s report to the. Hospital Board last Thursday which came under the heading of a complaint, was the continued presence of children in the Men’s Ward which it was stated, was- the cause of continued annoyance and discomfort to patients. Apart from this there were no complaints at all.

Tlie chairman Mr J. Mullins, said lie realised the urgent need for the opening of the Children’s Ward but had learnt from the Matron, that it was purely a matter of staff. When there were sufficient nurses tbe ward would lie opened but at pre,sent it was quite impossible. Mr McCready said that he had been informed of difficulties experienced by tile Sisters. He mentioned the small auxiliary stove which lie said was in a shocking state, and also the limited nature of the clothing room, which he said should be improved.

The chairman: Have you any suggestion to make ? Mr McCready: Yes, in the Women’s Ward we should build two rooms. We should get those children out and away from those old people. They can’t .sleep because of the din. I myself ha’d to threaten one'of them. A good dose of chloroform might help some of them.

The chairman: We realise the urgency, but we simply havn’t got the staff to do it.

Mr McCready: But would those children lie allowed to carry on like that at home. It would be a poor look out if they .did.

Dr. Dawson explained the shortage of accommodation was not limited to Whakatane, it obtained throughout New Zealand. * It was the same with the nursing staff, and no one was keener than he to see the Children’s Ward opened. He explained that with the lifting of the manpower restrictions most of the Probationers wanted to leave—they were leaving now. Enquiries were being made all over the country lor greater staff numbers and if promises were kept, it should be possible to open the ward towards the end of February. The Board could depend on it. that if humanly possible this would be done. The Doctor’s explanation was accepted and the Board decided to investigate the state of the auxiliary stoves in the men’s, women’s and annexe wards with a view to improving them and also to go into the possibility of increasing the size of the clothes locker rooms."