THE HOSPITAL BOARD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26625, 22 November 1947, Page 9

THE HOSPITAL BOARD

Sir, —As a nurse, and one who is at present suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis, I desire ■to record my disgust and indignation on reading a certain electioneering notice inserted by the Labour Party in the Daily Times on the day before the local bodies’ elections. This notice contained various statements about the incidence of tuberculosis amongst nurses, and what had and had not been done by the Otago Hospital Board over a period of years in the sanatoria under its control for the protection of nurses and the welfare of patients, I am sure all nurses would join me in protesting against being “ used ” in this way for political propaganda of the most despicable kind. For Uhe benefit of the general public, I should like to point out that statistics show that the incidence of tuberculosis amongst nurses is not higher than amongst young women of the same age group in other occupations. A further statement in the notice commented on Mrs Norah Ross’s chairmanship of the Sanatoria Committee. As an ex-member of the nursing staff of Dunedin Hospital, I am glad to take this opportunity of mentioning the respect and affection with which Mrs Ross is regarded by members of the staff, and with what pleasure I read to-day that she had headed the poll in the Hospital Board election. —I am, etc., Nurse.