STAFF PROBLEMS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19998, 25 July 1939, Page 4

STAFF PROBLEMS

NURSING STANDARDS NUMBERS INADEQUATE ACCOM V ODATION SH ORT DISLOCATION OF RELIEFS The acuteness of the shortage of nursing staff at the Cook Hospital was again referred .to at yesterday afternoon’s meeting of the Cook Hospital Board, when it was pointed out that the shortage existed throughout New Zealand, owing to the loss of nurses through retirement from the service being in excess of the recruitments.

It was stated that hospital boards had been advised, by the Health Department to secure nurses from Australia and Canada, and that the recent Hospital Boards' Association conference had taken the view that the department itself should devise means of overcoming the present critical problems of staffing the public hospitals throughout the Dominion.

The subject was introduced by a reference in the report of the lady superintendent, Miss G. M. Leipst, to the fact that the system of reliefs for nurses was disorganised by a shortage of staff. This was a consequence ot three members of the nursing staff having been ill, the report pointed out. Medical Superintendent’s Comments Commenting on the report, the medical .superintendent, Dr. R. J. B. Hall, pointed out that the nursing staff was still wel'l below the standard recommended by the Health Department, and that as long as the present conditions obtained, it would be impossible to cope with the work in the wards, and with special demands on the staff, while any nurses were ill. Until the board secured the additional 14 nurses required to reach the standard, there must be occasional disorganisation of reliefs. The board had' before it a preliminary motion in regard to the; provision of additional accommodation for nursing staff, which is to be effected by building an additional storey on the new extensions to the nurses’ home now in process of erection. The chairman, Mr. M. T. Tra.flord, said that the board was doing its utmost to provide for housing additional staff, but that for the present it seemed impossible to secure the services of a sufficient number of nurses, even if the accommodation were available.

Maternity Annexe

It was mentioned that the maternity annexe at tire hospital was now full, and that a temporary appointment of a nursing .sister now resident in Gisborne had been made, to meet the demands of night nursing sister under the prevailing conditions.

Mr. H. J. F. Tombleson drew attention to the substantial improvement <in ’the patronage of the maternity annexe, concerning which the board had recently expressed disappointment. He asked whether there was any special explanation, for the improvement.

Dr. J. C. Collins referred to the fact that the board had appointed a special committee to investigate the position of tire maternity annexe, and had made certain adjustments which probably accounted for the improved patronage.

Mrs. E. R. Scott: The fact that there is to be a doctor in attendance at every case must make a big difference to the use of the home.

The chairman remarked that whatever the reason might be, the home was now full, and was performing the function for which it had been provided by the board.