SEVEN-DAY WEEK

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 454, 23 June 1937, Page 6

SEVEN-DAY WEEK

NURSES AT NAPIER Provisions For Recreation And Sickness I Press Association —Copyright. Napier, June 22. Giving evidence at the Napier Hospital inquiry regarding the conditions existing for nurses, Dr. Foley said the nurses were not lo well off as elsewhere. They had a seven-day week. e There was no 40-hour week. Although ithe hours were long the nurses were not worked hard. A serious effort had been made to pro- . vide better conditions. Late leave was.- limited ito 11 p.m. for certain : girls. Some nurses would not report i sick too readily. Matron Croft said the nurses had two tennis courts, a library, sitting : room, ec. As soon as ill-health was detected the nurses were sent to I ! bed. They were weighed every two j months and those missing a meal were noted. They were nurses on the regular staff of the Shrimpton ward. Mr Foden: So that if a certain disease were present in ithe ward the same sister would be nursing her sick companion as well as the d»s eased children.—The nurses’ sick bay would be preferable. If the sick- ■ ness were of a minor nature the pati- | ent was expected to tell her own parents; otherwise witness would write to the nurse’s parents. Tlib nurses worked 58 hours one week and 50J the next week. There was insufficient staff to grant all that the nurses requirsd. Mr Foden requested that if a nurse were called to give evidence there would be no victimisation. Mr Mosley: You need not be afraid of that; ithe commission will safeguard them. Some nurses wiV. be called. The matron sai l extra aec imino.la tion was to Lt pi\jv ded, permitting , au increase in the t.’aff and one clear day off a week, 'the nurses had been encouraged to form clubs, etc. fo. recreation. One t-'nt <;f milk a day was allowed for each Purse. Her reports to the board were addressed- to th? managing secretary. Sir James' Elliott: And the medical superintendent is ignored?—No, we discuss it, and nothiir; I send to the board is objected to by bin Some nurses went six weeks, with only one day off but the best was done with the available stair The mo<ther of a nurse complained that her daughter did not receive pioper treatment during an illness. If that , was poisible, she asked, how . would the patient, fare