NURSES’ WORK

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 809, 1 November 1929, Page 16

NURSES’ WORK

HOURS AND CONDITIONS DISCUSSION BY HOUSE i Press Association WELLINGTON, Thursday. A discussion on hospital matters took place in. the House today when the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Amendment BiH was considered in committee. Mr. J. A. Nash (Palmerston) asked what was being done to rectify the shortage of house surgeons. The Minister of Health, the Hon. A. J. Stallworthy, replied that it was hoped to overcome the shortage by this time next year. Mr. A. M. Samuel (Thames) raised the question of improving nurses’ conditions and hours and asked the Minister to give an assurance that something would be done. Mr. A. Harris (Waitemata) asked what remuneration would be paid to certificated nurses who went to a St. Helens hospital to train as maternity nurses. At present they received nothing, but the Minister had promised to look into the question. An assurance that he was doing everything possible to bring about an improvement in the hours and conditions of nurses was given by the Minister. He said the primary responsibility rested with the hospital boards, who would frame bylaws as they deemed fit. It would take time to do all that should be done. Steady progress. however, was being made in the direction of improving the hours and conditions of nurses. Mr. Stallworthy added that he had in mind a scheme which would be tried in one' of the St. Helens hospitals. whereby the nurses would work an eight-hour day, with one day off each week. “I am doing everything that is possible in this matter,” lie added. The Bill was passed.