SHORTAGE OF DOCTORS AND NURSES

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2468, 22 May 1915, Page 6

SHORTAGE OF DOCTORS AND NURSES

WHAT THE HON..R. H. RHODES PROPOSES. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Christohuroh, May 21. Regarding the statement made to his board by Dr. Barclay, Medical Superintendent of the Wellington Hospital, and the statement by Mr. H. B. Sorenson, chairman of the Christchurch Hospital Committee, about the shortage of, doctors and nurses in their respective institutions, the Hon. R. Heaton Rhodes. Minister of Public Health, made the following statement this evening "The Government's decision to equip a hospital ship and to send additional medical men and nurses to the seat of war will undoubtedly tax our medical and nursing resources, and put _a considerable strain on our hospital system. Nevertheless, lam confident that the Dominion is prepared to make further sacrifices, and to put up with many inconveniences, in order that her sons who are so manfully upholding the honour of the flag may benefit by the best medical and nursing attendance. I am in communication' with the medical, nursing, and hospital authorities of the Dominion, and I feel sure that their medical officers, matrons, and nurses, who for various reasons have not been able to go to the front will loyally undertake additional duties and responsibilities to enable as nianv medical men and nurses as possible to go where their services can be best utilised in this trouble of the Empire. It will doubtless be necessary to relax the regulations regarding _ the proportion of trained to untrained nurses in our public and private hospitals. I hope that youug women will volunteer for sorvico as probationers or helps in their local institutions for the period of. the war, if they do not mean to make nursing their profession. Hospital authorities will be advised to take quite young girls for this work, provided they are in good health and of sonud constitution. This being essentially a time for service and self-denial. I feel sure that the' Dominion will rise to tho occasion, and that her daughters, as well as her sons, will readily give their services where they, can bo best utilised for the commor weal."-