ANNUAL REPORT

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26119, 23 May 1950, Page 2

ANNUAL REPORT

NURSING ASSOCIATION The year had been a very important one in the history of the association in that it had received from Mrs R. E. McDougall and her three daughters the gift of the magnificent residence in Murray place known as Fitzroy, says the annual report of the committee of the Nurse Maude District Nursing Association Trust Board. As had been announced at the last annual meeting, it was proposed to use that home for the short-term convalescent treatment of former hospital patients, and the necessary alterations were now proceeding, adds the report. "This is a new departure from the general work of the association and will involve the expenditure of a large sum of money in the alterations and provision of equipment for the home, but in view of the really urgent need for a home of this type, the committee feels confident that the venture will be supported by the citizens of Christchurch.” The revenue account showed an excess o[ expenditure over income of £9ll for the year. The committee was very concerned about the deficiency and was exploring every avenue in an endeavour to increase the revenue of the association, says the report. The nursing service of the association in the homes had again been availed of fully, and a Cotai of 27.295

treatments had been given in the city and suburbs and in the Lyttelton district in the last 12 months. Treatments given to out-patients numbered 1813. and 4475 calls were received at the rooms for help of various kinds. “The increasing difficulties of housing and the lack of sufficient institution beds to accommodate the many chronic invalids in the community have been two of our most pressing problems in the last year.” says the report. “Many people are living in houses and apartment rooms that are squalid and miserable, with no facilities or conveniences for ordinary decent living when in good health; how much worse are these places when illness attacks the occupants? The problem of lack of household help in homes where there is sickness is also still acute, and though we have been able to help a number of patients to solve this difficulty, there have been others whose homes have had to be broken up through the impossibility of obtaining help, and admission to an institution has been inevitable.” In Lyttelton the nursing service was doing excellent work, and was being availed of by all sections of the community. “It is now 54 years since Nurse Maude founded the District Nursing Service, and we know that the need for this work i.s greater than ever to-day.” says the report. “We hope that in this, the centennial year of Canterbury, the many friends of the association will continue to give all the help they can so that the work may not only be maintained at a high level, but also may be extended so that the best possible service can be given to the community.”