Need For Day Clinics

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32016, 17 June 1969, Page 2

Need For Day Clinics

Extensions of day clinics to allow patients to be treated but remain living at home was one of the recommendations of a recent special chapter in Rome of the Little Company of Mary. “We want to help as many people as possible rather than put up buildings," said Mother Mary Bernard, Mother Provincial of the nursing order in New Zealand, in Christchurch yesterday. She recently returned from Rome. Limiting the need for Institutions except in cases of acute illness was one of the resolutions to come from the chapter, called to review the constitution to meet present needs.

It was decided that a 50- - bed hospital was an ideal size for the order. “Our sisters are becomng administrators rather than tending the needy, which is their profession and vocation. With closer contact, much more can be done for people,” said Mother Bernard. The order was anxious to work in conjunction with other services—medical and social —to expand its scope and avoid duplication. “In New Zealand we work with the health services, including public hospitals, and here in Christchurch we combine with the Samaritan So-

ciety,” said Mother Bernard. The company’s hospitals had social workers who visited patients after they left hospital, and doctors readily recommended those who needed care to the psychiatric day clinic. “I feel there shouldn't be anyone—the lonely or the sick—needing help and not getting it New Zealand has a small, health-minded population and if everyone does just a little we will meet the needs,” she said. The Calvary Hospital psychiatric day clinic was now very much appreciated in Christchurch. The next move would be to build an allpurpose, recreational halt “This has now become an I urgent need, but space is our I problem. We have two cotI tages where doctors see paI tients but we do want a hall I for occupational therapy, recreation and social funcI tions,” she sad. The clinic had “just grown” (it now treats about 50 patients a day) and because of this it kept a “homely air,” which Mother Bernard and the sisters value. “It’s not good for a patient to go into a new, impersonal building and that is why we would like to have the hall near the present clinic but it is difficult to find room unless we go across the road,” said Mother Bernard. Mother Bernard does not believe in too much planning. “It’s better to just meet the need as it comes. The world is changing too rapidly to plan too much,” she said. She considers New Zealand needs many more psychiatrists. Two of the order’s psychiatrists attended the Rome chapter with her and went on to Canada where they will attend the international nurses’ conference in Montreal later this month. Awarded an 0.8. E. in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List Mother Bernard regards the honour as a shared one. “It has made my sisters and friends very happy. I feel my work has been the best I could do from day to day, but nothing spectacular,” she said.