New Tb. Regulations Pose Staff Problem

Chronicle (Levin), 27 September 1949, Page 5

New Tb. Regulations Pose Staff Problem

Fears that the new statutorv tuberculosis regulations whieh came into force recentlv are going to throw an excessive amount of work on to the shonlders of hospital staffs unless additional staff can be emploved, are held by the Palmerston North Hospital Board whieh yesterday resolved to draw the Department 's attention to the position in whicli it was placed. The filling in of the nerossarv forms would prove very tedious and would necessitate extra staff and far more timo than they were able to give under exi.sting circumstances, said Dr. J. D. TYillis, acting medical-superintendent. IVrsonlie did not think they wero necessary and could not see.how tliey would benefit the health of the patient. "I can't see liow we can adequatelv do the work with the present staff and aecommodation sliortagej?' he said. Mr J. A. Nasli (chairman) said that to carry out the regulations the board wonld have to employ extra staff. It should point-this out to the Department and ask if it were in favour of this aetion. This was agreed to. Dr. "Willis stated that the objoet of the regulations seemod to be to find out the extent' of the disoase in the country but the process was far too redurdanr. Rome cases would come up month after month and a new form would have to be filled out each time.