NURSE FOR HELENSVILLE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 280, 24 November 1915, Page 8

NURSE FOR HELENSVILLE.

HOSPITAL BOARD AND HEALTH OFFICER. AN URGENT NEED. The need for the placing of a district nurse in the licleusvillc district to attend to maternity and other caws was urged upon the Auckland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board last night by the District Health Officer (Dr. T. J. Hughes I in reporting the result of a recent inquest held on a Maori woman in that part of the Boa-rd's district. The officer stated in his report that the Coroner's jury, after returning its verdict, added a rider to the effect that the Government be urged to take 6tcps to have a properly qualified nurse stationed at Helcnsville to attend to accouchement and other cases. Dr. Hughes pointed out that in the Helcnsville district there were no nursing facilities available, except :i private hospital, at which there was not at present a properly qualified nurse. In view of the marked shortage of medical men. in the country districts in particular, j_ seemed desirable to provide the best possible nursing facilities, and it was hoped that the co-operation of all the Boards in the Auckland Health District might be obtained in the matter. The need for a district nurse in the country was great, and would become more acute as war conditions and the shortage of (medical mou became more accentuated. Helcnsville would he a good centre in which to headquarter a district nurse, who could combine both the work for Europeans and natives. The Health Officer suggested that the Board should appoint a district nurse, who should possess both the general and maternity qualifications. The matter was referred, after a short discussion, to the Finance Committee.