GRANT TO NURSE MAUDE ASSOCIATION

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23751, 24 September 1942, Page 3

GRANT TO NURSE MAUDE ASSOCIATION

PURPOSE OF INCREASE EXPLAINED Reference to the increased grant by the North. Canterbury Hospital Board to the Nurse, Maude Association was made by Mrs W. Mackay at a meeting of the board yesterday. She said that after reports of last month’s meeting there might be some apprehension about the matter, and she wished to make it quite clear that the increased grant was for a specific purpose. Mrs Mackay added that the purpose was to provide an additional nurse, an increase in salaries to the eight nurses who were then being paid very much below the ruling rate for nurses, and a uniform allowance and adequate car allowance for all the nurses on district work. This meant an increase in expenditure of a little more than £9OO. “I understand that what Mrs Green had in mind was the provision of free out-patient treatment at the rooms of the Nurse Maude Association, which it was thought would relieve the hospital out-patient department and be of assistance to those who attended at the rooms of the association,” said Mrs Mackay. “It will be seen, however, that the board’s increased grant was for a specific purpose, and it would not be possible for the Nurse Maude Association to grant free dressings in every case, but I do know that the association would gladly welcome additional patients at its outpatient department. The fee charged is a very nominal one, and with very few exceptions every patient is only too pleased to pay this small fee.” Mrs T. Green said - she had not intended any reflections on the Nurse Maude Association, which was doing splendid work. She had raised questions brought up in a report by the medical superintendent (Dr. A. D. Nelson).