STAFF SHORTAGE AT WAIPIATA

Southland Times, 16 October 1942, Page 4

STAFF SHORTAGE AT WAIPIATA

Question Of Healthy Occupation "The Waipiata Sanatorium Committee is much worried by the apparent unwillingness of some girls to undertake duty for the Waipiata Sanatorium so that normal staff losses cannot be made up and the chairman of the committee has asked me to approach you on the question," stated Dr T. McKibbin, medical officer of health for Otago and Southland, in a letter which he wrote to the man-power officer, Dunedin, and a copy of which was received at the meeting of the Southland Hospital Board yesterday. The letter continued: "Lately there have been public comments suggesting this is a dangerous occupation. I can confidently reassure any girl seeking a healthy one that such is very far from being the case. The place was chosen and equipped for the timely restoration to health of tuberculosis patients discovered by doctors throughout Otago and Southland. More than 80 per cent, of the patients recover and the majority of those who do not return to their base hospitals. The conditions for a girl taking up employment at Waipiata are much more healthy than those in a city factory, shop or hospital as sickness figures prove conclusively. “All Waipiata employees are medically examined to ensure that the committee, not the girl, is running no employment risk. It is a fact not generally appreciated that the infectivity of tuberculosis is miid. Results show that the average city dweller runs much more risk of contracting it than does the staff at Waipiata. Intelligent care and healthy life will ensure that a normal girl will not contract it. I confidently recommend any girl prepared to leave the city and wishing to do worthy work not to refuse an opportunity for employment at Waipiata in particular.”