U.K. NURSES FOR MENTAL HOSPITAL

Chronicle (Levin), 27 July 1946, Page 2

U.K. NURSES FOR MENTAL HOSPITAL

-Press Association

By Telegraph—

WELL1XUTOX, July 26. "The staffing position in menlal hospitals is becoming desperato, and it woukl be a godsend to us if we could get people to help by (loiug even Imlftinio work," snid Dr. "T. (5. (iray, Director-Ueneral oL' Alental llospituis today. Although coiHlitious aud salaries m the service had been markedly imj »ro vel in recent liines, ihe statliug po.silibu was becoming worsc, he said, and Dr. K. G. T. Lewis, who was on sl udy leave in England, was now associated with Ihe lligh Uonuuissioner for Xew Zea land in selecting suitable young Britis-n women for the workj The Xew Zealand (lovernment wa.piepared to pay the passage money for, 200 young women, married or single, from Britnin, if thev would undertake duties as uurses in moiital hospitals. 'll avus thought that the prospects of relieving statl" diffieulties in this "way were favourable, as there had been in(piiries from young women in Britain. Although tlie departuient had not required prcvious training in tlie work, many of the applieants had been trained. Dr. Urny reniarked tliat- th'e ])reseut sliortage of uiental nurses iu Xew Zealand was 300, at least. Britain was placing no obstacles iu tlie way of young women wisliing to come to Xew Zealand, although Britain was also short of nurses. The position scemed to be general, and information from South Africa showed that Ihe statliug position there was very difficult. f)r. Gray said tlie young women would be given a high priority in transport from Britain, and he under stood that no time would be lost in bringing nurses to Xew Zealand.