HOSPITAL NURSES

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 381, 5 May 1910, Page 8

HOSPITAL NURSES

WHEN ON OI'TSIDI: DUTY. WHO IS TO HAVE THE MuNEY?

i Some time ago tlie St nit ford Hospital Board passed a resolution allowing weal doctors to have the services of nurses I from the hospital in emergency cases, ■provided the mir-es could lie spared from tilt institution. This concession is largely availed ot. Yesterday the Hoard wits | occupied for some considerable time over the (jlie,tinii of the fees to .he charged ( for the use of such nurses and the disposal of such fees. | The question was opened bv the following motion brought forward bv the .chairman: "That the terms upon' whichj .'local medical men are to have the ser-j , vices of the matron, or nurses for outside patients arc to be as follows: Matron 2hs. and nurse IDs (id per diem; ' fov use of sterilised sheetings or dressing. 5s (the same not to be supplied unless with a nurse). Charges to be deihited to the medical men and to l)o re- \ niittod in indigent cases, ilatron and I nurses to receive as bonus one half ot the fees collected.'' I Discussion then followed freely, and ' ar times the Board seemed in a bit of a tangle, so many resolutions and amendments coming forward. Mr. Marfell said thev should notyalki\v the matron to leave the hospital. I Slu was experienced and was required there in charge. He also objected to I this bonus; it would give vise to jealonsy. If the murses were not paid enough, pay them more. He did not be- ' lieve in indirect payment. ' Chairman: If you had fo undergo a serious operation you might be willing to break a lot of red tape. Mr .Marfell moved us an amendment that the last clause be deleted from the motion. Mr. Ward seconded pro forma. He, however, thought when c. nurse went cut 011 a special case she should be specially paid. It was not fur to ask a nurse to jro in the middle of the night ten or twelve miles into the country for a paltry •'is 3d. He was in favor of the nurse getting the lot. Mr. Cameron thought it would be better to pool the money and divide it equally among the nurses, the matron to have twice as much as a nurse. This vould be fairer, as if one nurse was away her work naturally fell 011 the rest. He moved that the whole fees be -pooled and divided among the nurses as suggested. Mr. Kennedy seconded. Mr. Marfell: If all the money is pooled, it will pav nurses better to go cult than stop in. and we will be in the position of keeping a place where nurses art kept, not a hospital. Mr. Porritt said it was only for aii| emergency case. No nurse was to be away more than two days. | Mr. Ward .pointed out that the chair-! man had to decide in all cases if it was i urgent or not, so the matter was safe. Mr. Marfell held that it was not fair for backblock ratepayers who could not obtain tjie use of these nurses, that othem could use them and the Hospital get' no benefit. I The motion was put, and 011 a division! it was found the voting was equal.l Messrs. Ward, Kennedy, Cameron and the chairman voting for it, and Messrs, .Marfell. Maxwell. V'redith and Perritt against. The ch-iiri-'-.i;i gave his casting vote against, -ml the amendment was lost. An amendment, by Mr. Porritt that l»aIf fees he pooled was <;«on>1»d bv Mr. Marfell. The Chairman: Would half fees be worth pooling'/ Mr. Cameron: It's a downright slap in the face to the-nurses; 5s 3d, if pooted, would mean about Sid each, i'he stall' were entitled to tin: full amount. 1 Mr. Meredith: We must act as l)usi-j m.ss men. We ha\e good nurses, and it we let them out. patients will be treated privately instead of in the hospital. Mr. Kennedy: The principle is affirmed. We let nurses out. It is not fair to let them go at their own expense. This amendment was also lost on the chairman's casting vote. Mr. Ward said, seeing that the nurses are not allowed to take any gratuity ivofh the patient or doctor, lie would move that the fee be doubled. —No seconder. The original motion was then put and lost by 5 votes to 3. A member asked what was the position now. The Chairman: Nothing is defined. . Mr. Cameron then moved that ehe charges he: Matron 22s (id, nurse 12s Gd, all fees to be divided among the nursing staff. They had a good staff, and the way to keep them was to pay them veil. Seconded by Mr. Kennedy. Mr. Porritt moved as an amendment that half fees be pooled. This practically covered the. same ground as ' the previous amendment. Nurses, he said, were well paid for their services, and if called out half fees should he sufficient. Mr. Ward: Are nurses well paid? Mr. Marfell said the hospitals were training grounds for nurses. He admitted the pay was low, but thfly had noi

difficulty in getting 'probationers. would like to sec their pay raised, and ail money from fens to go to the hospital.! liotli amendment and motion were! lost on the easting vote of the chairman, and it looked like a deadlock. , .Mr. Ward said ho would give notice, I of motion to rescind the resolution al- ■ lowing nurses to go outside the hos-! pilal. ' After further desultory discussion it was decided that the charges be: Matron •21s. nurses 10s fid per diem, that 2s (id! he taken in each case for the hospital, and that the balance he pooled and dii viiicil among the nursing stall', as suggested. quarterly. I Me«rs. Marfell, Maxwell and Meredull were the dissent ien\Jr. T.he first | ■named stating the matter had not vet ! readied finality.