H—3l

Pre-school Medical Inspection Summary —continued Number of defects found—continued Number. Percentage. Enlarged glands .. .. .. .. .. .. 386 5 ■ 24 Goitre .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 80 1-08 EyesExternal eye disease .. .. .. .. .. 106 1•44 Defective vision .. .. .. .. .. .. 52 0-70 Ears— Otorrhoea .. .. .. .. .. .. 16 0-21 Deafness .. .. .. .. .. .. 34 0-46 ■ Phimosis .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 28 0-38 Undescended testicles.. .. .. .. .. .. 96 1-30 Hernia .. .. .. • • •. •. .. 30 0 • 40 Habit abnormalities — Bad food habits .. .. .. .. .. .. 778 10-57 Other bad habits .. .. .. .. ... .. 497 6-75 Bowel-action abnormality .. .. .. .. .. 100 1-35 Eneuresis .. .. . • •• •• .. .. 474 6-44 Insufficient daytime rest .. .. .. .. .. 546 7 • 42 Insufficient sleep .. .. .. .. .. .. 760 10-33 Preventive immunizations — Whooping-cough —Complete course of vaccine : Number of children.. .. .. 990 Diphtheria—Complete courses, either three doses of formol toxoid, or two of alum precipitated toxoid : Number of children — Pre-school ages .. .. .. .. .. .. 9,445\ 1R Primary school .. .. .. .. .. .. 8,768/ ' DIVISION OF NURSING Legislation The Nurses and Midwives Act and Amendments were consolidated in 1944, and provisions were included in the new Act for the training, examination, and registration of male nurses and for the awarding of post-certificates for special courses approved by the Nurses and Midwives Board. Under this legislation the certificate awarded by the Royal New Zealand Society for the Protection of Women and Children (Plunket Society) will, from April, 1946, be recognized as a State certificate. Hospital Service The following table shows that, although the occupied bed rate of hospitals used as training schools is still increasing, there is for 1946 a decrease of some 250 in nursing staff. This is largely due to the large number of marriages which took place during the year with the return of servicemen, and to the lifting of the man-power restrictions. The table shows a total of 4,627 nurses for approximately 8,600 occupied beds. If the staff was on the basis of 1 nurse to 1-5 occupied beds as recommended, it is estimated the requirements would be a total of 6,450 nurses. However, the reduction in the numbers of registered nurses should be only a temporary phase. A certain number of nurses who have been attached to the Services will return to practise, and the number of nurses registering each year has been steadily increasing, from 450 in 1940 to 665 in 1945. At present the position in some of the country hospitals, particularly those where the amenities are not good, or where little improvement has been made to equipment, is most difficult owing to staff shortages. The Hospital Boards controlling these hospitals will have to improve conditions if staff is to be retained.

Nurses in Training Schools

16

— 1940. 1941. 1942. 1943. 1944. 1945. 1946. Number .of occupied beds in training schools Number of registered nurses Number of pupil nurses .. 5,331-8 908 2,219 6,040-0 922 1,575 6,285-7 984 2,798 6,808-5 1,172 2,974 7,603-2 1,366 3,124 8,493-0 1,500 3,390 8,550-05 1,347 3,280