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Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 July 1942, Page 4

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NEEDED FOR NURSING PROFESSION APPEAL BY DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF HEALTH. FEAR OF CRITICAL SITUATION IN FUTURE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The urgent need for more recruits for the nursing profession was emphasised today by the Director-General of Health, Dr. W. H. Watt, who expressed serious concern for the future unless immediate additions were made to the ranks of the nurses. He referred to the extra demands upon the nursing service brought about by the war. Two thousand nursing recruits were needed each year in the training schools. He pointed out that while training these nurses were doing vital war work, nursing sick and wounded men from overseas and helping to maintain the physical stamina of the civilian home front. Nursing was an essential service and while performing a community task of untold value, the nurse was fitting herself for an interesting and well-paid career. The Department was anxious that as many girls as possible should come forward. Dr. Watt also pointed out that the hospital service was expanding as a result of Social Security benefits, and that there were corresponding demands on nursing service. The situation was not yet critical, but unless proper provision could be made for the inevitable expansion in future, it would quickly.become so. The time to make, provision was now.