THE NURSES' CALLING

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 175, 3 November 1910, Page 7

THE NURSES' CALLING

DISSATISFACTION AT DUNEDIN. COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE FOOD. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Dunedin, Wednesday. Of late, complaints have been made with regard to the conditions under which nurses in the Dunedin Hospital have to work, and the grievances have been put into concrete shape in the form of a letter to the Otago Daily Times. In the course of the letter the writer says:—

"At present no fewer than seven nurses are off duty, some of them being dangerously ill; indeed, for some it is feared their nursing days are done. This is a fearfully high percentage of tinnumber engaged —sixty, I think —and others are bravely holding on who are far from well. More than 50 per cent, are compelled to take medicine to help them through indigestion, which plays liavoe with them. The key lies in the rush and hurry of their life, the short time they have for meals, and the fact that the food, instead of being tempting and appetising, is oftener than not nauseating, owing to rawness and insipidity. A hospital nurse is not 'made of castiron, yet if any of her relations are dying she may be unable to obtain leave to bid them a last farewell. I know of three eases where this happened not so long ago. Hitherto nurses going from the Dunedin Hospital to the Fever Hospital were paid £-1 per week. Now the Board has resolved that they shall, while at the Fever Hospital, be paid the same rates as in the Dunedin Hospital, viz., os. 7s 6d or 10s. Nurses come from Wanganui, Tapanui, Balclutha, Christchurch, and various other parts. On leaving the Fever Hospital the nurse must have two clear weeks before she can return to the general hospital. If her home be in any distant locality, what will become of her if she happens to be in indifferent financial circumstances?"

Enquiries made by a reporter show that the number of nurses sick at present is greater than is mentioned above. A medical man stated that on Sunday evening there were twelve nurses off duty out of a total of sixty. Some of these -would not be able to return to duty, as they would be rendered unfit for further nursing. There had been numerous complaints for some time on the part of the nurses, especially in relation to the food supplied, and so far as he knew the complaints were perfectly justified. Among those incapacitated were a number suffering from gastric trouble, due to the food supplied. There were also cases of pneumonia, and of burns. Indigestion was the chief cause of the trouble, because of the short time allowed the nurses for meals.

A nurse, when seen by the reporter, said that about six weeks ago they had drawn up complaints with regard to the food and other things, and handed them to the authorities, but so far they had not been given satisfaction, although one or two little things had been more or less remedied. The diet was monotonous, and not nicgly served, and when there was so much sickness amongst the nurses Surely some attention should be given to the subject by the authorities. Another thing the nurse greatly objected to was the nursingi of consumptives in the general hospital. It was risky, alike to the nurses and other patients. Some nurses had contracted consumption there, and last year one died of it. After patients had been removed to the sanatorium at Pleasant Valley, they were brought back to the Dunedin Hospital to die. At leasttwo or three such cases had occurred since the establishment of the sanatorium, and it was undoubted that there were a great deal too many cases of phthisis in the general hospital. This nurse said the present eight-hour system was better than the twelve-hour system previously in force. The present scale of diet was given Iby Miss Fraser, the hospital matron, as jfollows: —Each morning there is porridge and milk, a cup of tea, and bread and butter before going on duty. For breakfast there is a chop or sausage, tripe and meats, and bacon and eggs once a week. For dinner there are two kinds of vegetable and always a milk pudding, steamed pudding, or apple pie, junket and stewed fruit, or rice. Soup is provided three times a week, and roast beef and roast mutton alternate, with stew or pie occasionally. For tea there is bread and butter and jam, and three times a week cooked meats and salad. She considered the cooks produced a result which was on the whole very good.

Mr. Walker, chairman of the Hospital Board, informed the reporter that he and two other members paid a surprise visit to the Nurses' Home recently. He was not altogether satisfied with the food. A new scale of diet was being drawn up, and would be considered by the Board. It was hoped to improve the arrangements for cooking and serving the food. Mr. Walker said the service at the Fever Hospital was part of a nurse's duty, hence no extra payment was now made.

The matron expressed the opinion that the complaints were much exaggerated. In all hospitals some nurses were off duty, and she thought the sickness might be due to the change of season as much as anything. The names of three nurses, who it was alleged had been refused leave to visit dying relatives, were quoted, but enquiry showed that in these cases leave had been given. The matron maintained that the majority of the sick nurses were suffering from pneumonia, pleurisy, etc., not from indigestion. After leaving, the Fever Hospital nurses were always allowed a week's leave as a precaution, and, where possible, the annual holidays were added so as to give a good spell.