Auckland Plans To Meet Hospital Staff Problem

Taranaki Daily News, 26 August 1942, Page 4

Auckland Plans To Meet Hospital Staff Problem

Auckland, Aug. 25. In view of the war emergency, the Auckland Hospital Board last night decided to establish an auxiliary nursing service. The personnel will be drawn from the personnel of the Voluntary Aid Detachments and other girls willing to nurse for the duration of the war. The proposal was moved by Dr. Hilda Northcroft, who said that difficulties of staffing were increasing rapidly. There was no leisured class of women able to give their services whenever required. The voluntary aids, who were earning their livipgs in other spheres, gave their services at tremendous sacrifice to themselves and inconvenience to their employers. Tlvy were not being treated fairly. The time had come for. auxiliaries to be employed on a full-time basis. "We cannot have too many nurses," said Dr. Northcroft. Mrs. M. M. Dreaver, M.P., said the first move should be to put the needs of the hospital institutions before the local manpower authorities to ensure the drafting of suitable girls from those in the age-group conscripted for essential industry. The chairman, Mr. Allan J. Moody, said the board needed willing girls, not those who had to be "bulldozed" by the placement- officer.