PLUNKET SOCIETY

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25243, 23 July 1947, Page 2

PLUNKET SOCIETY

CHRISTCHURCH BRANCH Speaking at the monthly meeting of the Christchurch branch of the Plunket Society Mrs B. H. Gilmour (president) reported that administrative members of the society had met the Minister of Health (Miss Mabel Howard) informally at a luncheon party held in the Plunket rooms. Miss Howard, who was accompanied by her secretary (Mr E. Sutch) was shown over the rooms and was keenly interested in all she saw.

Miss E. J. Carter (charge nurse) reported that 111 cases had been interviewed in the pre-natal section. In the post-natal section new baby cases interviewed at headquarters'and suburban rooms were 234. and at outstations 23. Visits to homes, headquarters and suburban were 884, and outstations 104 making a total of 988. During the month the visits to the central rooms had been 1264 adults and 1060 babies, suburban rooms 2407 babies and 2495 adults, outstations 384 babies and 395 adults, and in the fire-school section 333 visits. There were now 3910 babies under supervision and during the month there had also been 436 telephone consultations. Miss Carter hoped that with the district changes which were pending she would be able to allow more time to be given to the pre-school child. With more than 10,000 children of pre-school age in the Christchurch area alone the task was an enormous one—but with an alteration in some districts it was hoped that each nurse would have one day a week for this work alone. It was reported that with the restoration of power cuts, it had been found unnecessary to purchase an oil stove for the premature ward at Karitane Hospital. This meant a saving of more than £3O.