HOSPITAL REFORM

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 60, 4 December 1920, Page 11

HOSPITAL REFORM

Sir,—With your permission I beg to reply __ to the published statements of Dr. Woodliouso, medical superintendent, *'• Castle, chairman, of the Wellington Hospital Board, which statements were made in reply to certain correspondents, somo of whom, including tho writer, used ft nom do plume for signature, as it was thought that if names were published it might possibly lead to victimisation of nurses who happened to be related or acquaintances of the writers. This explanation should serve to enlighten tho Rev. H. Van Stavoren. who at the last Hospital Board meeting, characterised the anonymous critica as "gadflies without backbone, who die within six months," which facetious reujark is scarcoly supported by tact, as it is nearly two years sinco The Dominion published my first letter advocating hospital reform, and unless the present members of the Hospital Board amend thoir ways or aro kicked bag and baggage out of office, the writer will continue with his endeavours. With regard to the published statement of. Dr. Woodhouse, ere this letter appears, that gentleman will probably have received a communication signed by nearly every nurse in the institution informing him of tho inaccuracies of his published statement, which presumably were the result of misinformation received by him from some subordinate. With your permission I will discuss the iuaccuracies, as they aro of a serious nature.

!•—Dr. Woodliouss states: "It ia incorrect to say that nurses ate compellod to work ovortime in the wards, the hours of changing duty are strictly observed." Also that "a nurso on morning (luty does per week 4D hoars in the wards, hve hours' study, arid' attends, perhaps, two lectures which give a total of M hours per week." The following facts may bo obtoinod from nurse.—Morning duty: Enter ward 5.40 a.m., leave ' I waws between 2.15 and 3 p.m., occasionally 4 p.m., timo on duty 8 hours 35 minutes minimum, 10 hours 20 minutes maximum.

Afternoon duty: Enter ward 1.40 p.m., leave ward 10.10 p.m. to 10.20, or accasionafiy 11 p.m. Time on duty from 8 hours 30 minutes to 9 hours 20' minutes.

The work is extremely hard, no nurse is allowed to sit down in a ward; they aro going a* "top" the whole time.

Night duty: Enter ward 9.40 p.m., leave ward 6.10 a.m. Time on duty 8 houra_3o minutes. The average time per flay whicK a nurso is on duty in a ward is thus 9 hours 8 minutes, not eight hours,-as stated by.Dr. Woodhouso.

2.—Dr. Woodhouso stated: "The wards are- provided with wardsmaids or with day labour, with the result that except for some very minor matters, a nurse's time is wholly devoted to her patients." This is absolutely incorrect, tho following'being among the duties of nurses .ind wardsmaids respectively. (It is important to note that some wards have no wnrdsmnid or day labour, and no wards have more than one wardsmaid.) Included in nurse's duty: Sweep floors, scrub tables,-' benches, and everything but doors, polish" brasswork, clean lavatories, baths, closets, sinks, and utensils, wash nnclcaned bedclothes, etc.. Wardsmaid's duty: Scrub Hoors, wash dislios, clean fireplaces,' handlo soiled linen. Of tho respective duties those of the nurses aro absolutely the most menial.

3. Dr. Woodhouse states that superTisors during hours of compulsory study are-provided from the senior nursing staff. This is incorrect, as there are no supervisors during tho compulsory study hours.

i. Dr. Woodhouse draws attention to my statemont that at the Auckland anil Hamilton Hospitals nurses have one. day off duty per week. He publishes telegrams stating that at Auckland there is ono day per month off and at Hamilton one day off per fortnight. Dr. "Woodnouso suggests that on account of this alleged inaccuracy all my remarkt) should be discounted. The facts are as follow:—

Early in September the Minister of Public Health was reported by The Dominion to - have stated in reply to a deputation that "owing to complaints that hospital trainees .broke down on account of tho hourß they had to work, the Department proposed to see that the nurses in training wore allowed one clear day of rest in the week. The hospital boards would bo obligod to comply with this arrangement. A Bill would be brought down, during the present session (the Minister failed to keep his promise, howover). Shortly after this was published, paragraphs appeared in the Auckland "Herald" stating that the Auckland and Hamilton Hospital Boards had decided to give their nurses one day's holiday per week. Possibly this may not have yet been given effect to, possibly it was an error. However, both tlieae boards give their nurses some days off, whereas the Wellington Board have onlv recently, and as a result of public resontment, made a promise of ono day ofF por month under certain eventualities regarding increased accommodation at the Nurses' Home, additions to the staff lwing obtainable, which I think extremely improbable under the existing condition?. The chairman and medical superintendent refer in t.lioir to the high filaees taken by nurses trained at Welington Hospital, but tliis is pure evasion, nnd has nothing fo do with tho subject of treatment of the nurses.

Tho lending article mid the letter of Dr. D. T. L. Paget which appexred in The Domtntox of the 2Sth in-fnnt, taken in conjunction with other letters publifhekl, and the communication to Dr. Woodhousc from the nurses, should cause somo impression on the minds of the hospital authorities that tho handwriting is on the wall, and that matters must bo mended or ended. The ratepayers will see to that.—l- am, etc., HOSPITAL TiKFORM. Wellington, November SO, 1920.