Shortage Of Country Plunket Nurses

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31716, 27 June 1968, Page 2

Shortage Of Country Plunket Nurses

The problem of country medical services is not limited to the supply of doctors for rural areas. The Hurunui branch of the Plunket Society, which serves the area between the Waipara and Conway rivers, has been without a full-time Plunket nurse since April 30.

For the last year the area has been serviced by a bursary graduate who was assigned to the branch for a year, but this nurse has left for a tour overseas.

The branch has been able to continue Plunket services in the area through the co-flper-ation of the Health Department which has made available one of the public health nurses in Rangiora for a clinic at Culverden. The services at some other clinics are being provided voluntarily by former Plimket nurses living in the area.

A public health nurse from Rangiora (Mrs M. E. Torrance) conducts the Plunket clinic at Hamner Springs fortnightly, and to help during the emergency arrangements have been made with the Health Department for Mrs Torrance to hold a clinic

at Culverden on the day of her visit to Hanmer. Persons who would normally attend the branch's clinic at Waiau are attending the clinic at Culverden in the meantime. Waikari Clinics Fortnightly clinics are held at Waikari by Mrs I. McDougall, the Plunket nurse from Kaiapoi. Three qualified Plunket nurses, who are married and living in the district, are conducting the clinics in their areas. They are Mrs A. Mowat (Cheviot), Mrs A Harrison (Scargill), and Mrs M. P. Kay (Glenmark). “They have young families of their own and the branch can not impose indefinitely on their voluntary services, which we greatly appreciate," said the president of the branch (Mrs G. DampierCrossley). “Permanent nurses visit new babies at their homes for the first three months. Because this cannot be done at present there is a risk that some babies will not receive Plunket supervision.” Best Hope The society’s headquarters in Dunedin, which appoints district nurses, had advised that there was a shortage of nurses for district work. The best hope of replacement seemed to be the chance of getting a nurse from the two classes which will graduate in September. “The position is aggravated by the shortage of doctors in the area,” said Mrs DampierCrossley. “Dr R. A. Wilkinson, who had served part of the southern area, left Amberley on May 4 and another doctor has not yet started there. Hawarden has been without a resident doctor since Dr G. H. Boston left the district about two years ago. “The branch faced a similar nursing problem about two years ago, when it was without a nurse for six months, said Mrs DampierCrossley. "Largely because of the same volunteers who are helping now, the branch was able to continue its services then.” Good Flat The headquarters for the nurse were at Waikari, about 50 miles by an excellent road from Christchurch, said Mrs Dampier-Crossley. The branch provided an excellent twobedroom flat, with all modern conveniences.

Because of the large area to be covered it Was preferrable that the nurse, who Was provided with a car, be a competent driver, she said. Commenting on the report,

Miss M. Nicholls, director of nursing services to the Plunket Society in Dunedin, said: “Rural areas throughout New Zealand are always difficult to staff, and we are grateful to the Health Department and the married nurses in the areas when they assist us. “In some Health Department areas the Plunket Society assists by providing relieving nurses for the department. However, I have the Hurunui position in hand and hope to appoint a nurse shortly.”