EDUCATION FOR HEALTH

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23944, 11 May 1943, Page 3

EDUCATION FOR HEALTH

MINISTER’S LETTER TO HOSPITAL BOARD “I am pleased to know that the board is anxious to promote a more intensive campaign for the education of health principles.” said the Minister of Health (the Hon. A. H. Nordmeyer) in a letter received at the meeting of the Ashburton Hospital Board yesterday. The Minister added that the Health Department had been able to do a great deal during the last few years, by the use of radio and newspapers, in emphasising the importance of preventive medicine. Unfortunately, results in such cases were never dramatic, and it would be a long time before the public would become generally alive to the importance of the maintenance of good health, and in particular of a balanced diet. “It is intended to intensify the campaign already in existence, and plans to this effect will be announced shortly,” concluded the Minister. In her report the matron (Miss V. E. Dearsley) said that Nurses E. M. Tucker and F. L. M. Winter had passed the final hospital examination. Misses N. M. McDonald (Hinds) and C. M. A. Magson (Rakaia), Red Cross Voluntary Aids, had completed 60 hours’ hospital training. The medical superintendent (Dr. A. J. Mason) reported that 117 patients had been admitted to the hospital last month and 120 had been discharged, leaving 100. There were also 622 outpatient attendances and 77 surgical operations. The gift of a leather upholstered invalid chair from the Lismore sub-branch of the Red Cross, for the use of members of the armed forces in hospital, was acknowledged by Dr. Mason. “The breakages don’t seem to be decreasing much,” said Mr C. A. Cam. pion, who asked how well off the hospital was for crockery. The secretary-treasurer (Mr H Chapman) said that the hospital was “holding fairly well.” It was reported that crockery breakages last month totalled 58 pieces, including 19 cups.