CO129-434 - Governor Sir May - 1916 [7-8] — Page 207

ANSWER S.

The COLONIAL SECRETART replied as follow:-

Question 1:-(1) and (2). This Govern ment has no information.

Question 1: (3). In the Nursing Times of the 1st April, 1916, these appointments Are published, under the heading Colonial Nursing Association,' 119 having been made since May, 1915.

Question 2:-During the period Jannary, 1913, to June, 1818, inclusive, the Nursing Staff in the Colony has been below the number borne on the estimates during 12 months. It has been equal to or in excess of that number during 30 months. Owing to the periodical grant of leave of absence it is normally the Unse throughout the Government Service that the establishment in the Colony, is below that shown in the estimates.

Question 3:-(1), His Excellency the Governor on the occasion mentioned went on to say that, taking the point regard- ing provision for leave and a further point regarding maternity cases into consideration, he had decided to recom- mend to the Secretary of State an in- crease of three Sisters as a temporary measure pending further investigation as to the disposition of the Staff. After some further remarks His Excellency added: "I am going to make, with the approval of the Secretary of State, an increase in the Staff for the specific The Staff was purposes mentioned." increased, and it is considered that the present establishment, when at. full strength, is ample for purposes of grant- ing customary leave of absence.

Question 3-(11). Three Sisters, who have recently completed four years' ser- vice, have had their leave postponed, owing to vacancies on the Staff. Leave does not become due to Government Servants at stated intervals, but may be granted, subject to the necessities of the Bervice, after certain minimum perioda of resident service.

Question 4:-It is not the case that short leave granted to Sisters has to be taken outside the Colony. It is not known what the practice is in tbo Federated Malay States.

Question 5: One Sister is responsible, as stated, in the sense that she has im- mediate control of the Staff in A block, which consists of a probationer nurse, a Volunteer Aid Detachinent Nurse on week day mornings, a Chinese Dresser, six Ward Boys, an Operating Theatre Boy, and five coolies. The Ward Boys do a great part of the nursing, such as the making of beds, dusting of wards, serving and carrying meals to patients, which forms part of the duties of Nurses in English hospitals. The Sister also attends operations. For ten years past one Sister has supervised the nursing on two floors in a similar manner. There

are 48 beds in the four public Wards in A Block. The number of occupied beda in A Block, including the private wards, Averaged during April, May, and June 37.9, 30.3, and 33.1 respectively.

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