HOURS OF NURSES.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19142, 27 October 1927, Page 14

HOURS OF NURSES.

ARE THEY OVERWORKED?

SICKNESS ON HOSPITAL STAFF

Allegations that the health of nurses at the Christchureh Hospital is affected through overwork, and that the full extent of the sickness amongstthem was not made public, were advanced at yesterday's meeting of tlie North Canterbury Hospital Board.

31 rs E. It. McCombs referred to a clause in the Hospital Committee's re- | port which read : - . . I •'A special report has been receiver ] from the Lady (superintendent stating that the : dav oil'' per week for nurses has temporarily broken down owing to the large amount of sickyess that has occurred during the past six or ci"ht weeks. Although the weekly holiday has broken down in w>nw wards vet it has been possible to give a fortnightlv day-off so far. It is hoped to he able to revert to the regular weeklv holiday very soon. ' According to rumours -Airs McCombs had heard on good authority there was a very large amount of sickness amongst nurses. The number at present ill was known to the Board to bo IS, reported to the committee, but it was known that there were a great many more' down with sickness, and she considered that the full report should be given to the Board. In heopinion, if there were more accurate and specialised organisation of the stair thev would not have so much breaking down. The Board was responsible for the health of the nurses and they should not have to suffer in heal, i through their work at the Hospital, vet she knew that they did. lhe nurses worked at least eight and a half, hours a day, as- they had to bo on dutv Ik?fore the schedule time, ana if their work., was not completed when time was up .they had to scramble through the rest of it before going ott. If thev could not carry out their, duties'in the eight hours, which was recognised as standard working time, then" the duties should be reduced. While they were working, and working hard, "they were all entitled to aweekly■ holiday and nothing should be allowed to interfere with. that. ihe Ladv Superintendent was anxious tc, arrange this but circumstances made it impossible . (i I wish to protest that the sistors have so little consideration given themi" concluded Mrs 'McCombs. !>■ amounts to a scandal.'' Mr L. B. Evans said that the Hospital Committee had no desire to keep the facts of the case from the public. It was not correct to say that all tlie cases of sickness amongst the nurses were due to overwork and breakdowns. There were many other cruises. . Mrs A. E. Herbert said that Dr. Fox (the Medical Superintendent) had predicted that the over-crowding or the children's ward would result in a" epidemic of, siekness amongst the nurses, and his prophecy had Men tuifilled If Board members, _ including Mrs McCombs, had not rejected the proposal to erect a new nurses home,, the sickness would not have occurred. They should have more accommodation. , . ... Mr F. Horrell, speaking from his long experience on the Board,, said that Mrs McCombs was "stretching the matter." Tho present outbreak was a sort of epidemic. He felt like giving - notice of motion that they should .proceed immediately to enlarge the nurses' home. Mr W. J. Walter: Build it on the hills.

A member: Don't be absurd. Mr J. K. Archer said he felt that there : was a lack of ~ appreciation amongst members of the Board of the "work done by the nurses. (Voices:' No!) If he was. mistaken he was sorry.i. In his. experience the nurses "worked like niggers.'• When he spent a holiday in the hospital he was surprised "at the work thev did, and even twenty-five years'on tne Board could not impress this on a member unless he had been in the hospital himself. They should do everything possible to help the nurses. It was not fair to ask a young girl to work for 14 days without a break, and the Board should lay down a rule that they should get a day's holiday in seven. If there was difficulty in obtaining sufficient, nurses thev should take in. outside assistance, rather than rob them of their holiday.

Mr H. H Holland r.esented Mrs McCombs' remark that there were'many more nurses dowri with illness than mentioned in the report. He had heard recently that 40 nurses were down with sickness. Mrs McCombs: That's what I heard. Mr Holland: I didn't believe it. Mrs McC6mbs: Neither. did T. Mr Holland: We cannot be expected to believe such rumours.

The full ' report as to sickness among the nurses attending the various wards was then read. It showed that since September 30th eight nurses had been warded' as sick, making, a total :of eighteen off duty. To this report was added a. footnote by Dr. Walter-Fox, the Medical Superintendent, as follows:

• "Miss Muir's note in reference to sickness among the rtursing staff speaks for itself. You, will observe that the cases" of illness date from September 30th, and previous to this date there was' an unusual amount of sickness, most of which I believe to be due to tlie over-crowded, condition of the wards; which I warned your committee two months ago would be followed, by illness on the staff." * The report was then adopted.