NEW OFFICER FOR HOSPITAL

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22335, 24 February 1938, Page 7

NEW OFFICER FOR HOSPITAL

WOMAN ALMONER tO BE APPOINTED WIDER SOCIAL SERVICE CONtteMPLAtfeD “If this institution is to keep in lim with the advance in hospital administration in other countries, we mufet giv« serious consideration to this particulai aspect of social service work withii the hospital,” said Mrs W. McKay when Urging the North Canterbury Hospital Boafd at its meeting yesterday to Consider the appointment o: a wdiilan almoner. When this matter was previously brought befote the board by Mrs McKay; a sub-comrfiittee Was_ instructed to report td the Board, This reporl Was presented By Mrs Mdkay yesterday. MrS McKay ihoVed tMI the boafc place oh the estimates an amount 61 net less than £250 to provide if

almOner for the hospital. This, was seconded By Sir' Hugh Aciand add carried. Reviewing the, work of almoners, Mrs McHay said they were active as Oariy as 1293. Modefh almoner service resulted from a realisation that a great deal Of the skilled attention arid treatment given to patients was being wasted because Of the lack of a connecting link between the hospital and the outside world. She considered that the almoner’s Work would be: (1) To provide a connecting link between the hospital artd the home; (2) to adjust home- conditions, if necessary, to enable the patient to enter hospital; (3) to attend to the preparation of the home for the return of the patient from hospital; (4) to help readjust the family to changed conditions; (5) to supervise the convalescence of the returned patient, often preventing a recurrence of the trouble and assisting in a quicker recovery; (6) to seek to remedy the social conditions Which might have caused the illness; (7 ) she Would follow up patients attending the out-patients’ department td ensure their attendance at clinics. Sir Hugh Aeland said there was a very great need for the .appointment of an almoner, but the difficulty Would be to obtain a trained person to fill the position. Ah almprier Would, require a great knowledge Of social, as Well as hospital, conditions. .MfS McKay said that th§ Melbourne University, provided a course for the training 61 almbhefi.