PROBATIONERS IN HOSPITALS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 310, 19 September 1918, Page 5

PROBATIONERS IN HOSPITALS

; (To the Editor.) Sir,—l venture to write a few lines of protest at the treatment regarding remuneration that is meted out to fids joining hospitals as probationers. I am told that in Wellington Public Hospital the girls have to work very hard for the munificent sum of 7s. 6d. per week. Nurse-girls will get 15s. a week in any decent home in these strenuous times—some hospitals, I believe, pay more. As most of _ the. probationers are well educated girls, does it not seem hard that they only get the pittance accorded to them? I am told a member of one board when approached on the-subject stated "they can ask if they want more." Surely this ought to bo "remedied, as it is far from a living wage.—l am, etc., b INQUIRER, [In answer'to the above Mr. H. Baldwin (chairman of the Wellington Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, stated that the question raised by "Inquirer" was evidently brought up under a misapprehension. Probationers were young ladies who.wished to qualify as nurses. They were only officially called probationers during the first twelve months of service. For that year they recoived £20 in wages, free uniforms, and enjoyed free board and lodging m the board's very excellent nurses' home—so that their position could scarcely be said to be summed .up,-as "Inquirer" would have the public believe, in the rcceint of the "munificent sum of Tβ. 6d. per week." Tho cash amounted to a fraction under Bs. per week, the board and lodging re•oeived could hardly be secured in Wellington at under'3os. per week, and in addition the nurses had their uniforms supplied and their washing done free. Furthermore, after the first twelve months' service they were entitled to free dental treatment and dw treatment from the honorary ear nnd throat specialists. "In view of these advantages," said Mr. Baldwin, "I don't think our probationers are poorly treated, nor do I think they tbemselves believe they aro not getting 'a fair thing. ■ Years ago young ladies wishing to take/up niirsiiig in a fjeneral hospital bad to pny a premium for admi=sion, as, 1 believe, was the case in England, up till tho time the war broke out." According to the oflieinl regulations tho salaries V rv annum P-wl to nurses Hid sisters am as follow-.—First-year nrnbalioner. £20; second-year nurse, •C 25; third-year nurse, £35 ; a fourfch-year nurse, £55; * fifth-vear nurse, £(55; sixth-year nurse, £75 (max.); flrst-yoar sister! £30: secoml-venr sister, £100; thinl-vonr sister, £110; fourth-year sister. £191 (max.). In addition to breakfast, dinner, and tea, nurses are provicM with morning tea, afternoon ten, and supper.]