HOSPITAL NURSES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1522, 19 August 1912, Page 6

HOSPITAL NURSES.

RUMOURS OP FURTHER TROUBLE AT AUCKLAND. (By Tcleffraph —Press Association.) Auckland, August 18. It is reported that iurtta troublo is likely to arise- at tho Auckland Hospital in connection with tho stuff nurses, of whom there are normally '£i in the institution. In course of conversation two of tho staif nurses, a. reporter was informed that no less than H of their number have either handed i'u their resignations or intend to do so immediately. These nurses are- not 'probationers, but have obtained full nursing diplomas, and are capablo of undertaking all tlio duties of the sisters who have eliurge of wards. Their complaint is that under present'conditions they aro no better olf than third-year probationers, having to go on night duly and generally to undertako wort which they consider that staff nurses should not have to do. ilv. 11. Sehofiold (chairman of the Hospital Board) when asked for an expression of opinion, said that the whole Uiing was news to him. All he knew of the recent resignations was that three were received at yu> last meeting of the board, ami that one had come in since. He was not aware officially of any unpleasantness or dissatisfaction among nurses, though ho had heard casually during tho last few days that something was wrong, For over n month no report (if. any trouble had come before tho board. Ho was much annoyed at the news, but ho felt that tho dissatisfaction could in no way bo laid at the door of tho board, ns no complaints lind been received wen from nurses who had resigned. Tho board, moreover, had only just complied with tho request of the staff nurses by giving them a riso in salary. Tho wholo matter would 1m looked into at once. Subsequently Mr. Sehofiold informed a "Star" representative that he had got into communication with iho hospital secretary and matron, l>oth of whom said that they know of no resignations beyond tho four ho had mentioned, and bad heard of no dissatisfaction among tho nurses'.