HOSPITAL AND PLUNKET SOCIETY

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 35, 4 November 1922, Page 16

HOSPITAL AND PLUNKET SOCIETY

CLOSER CO-OPERATION MOOTED. At the meeting of the Royal New Zealand Society for the Health of Women and Children, which was held this week, the following correspondence between Dr. AVilson. medical superintendent at the Wellington Hospital, and Dr. Truby King, Director of Child Welfare, was read. Concerning closer co-operation between the Hospital and the Plunket Society, Dr. W’ilson writes: — . “I am writing you to see if we at the Hospital could co-operate a little more closely with your Department. I am anxious that children discharged from hospital after treatment for gasintestinal troubles, usually the result of the mother’s ignorance, should be kept under observation. We find that few mothers return to the out-patient department with their chidren for further advice. The children in the Children’s Hospital here are now being fed on "Plunket” lines, and it is desirable that the same system should be continued at home. Could we arrange that on a child’s discharge: (a) The mother be given a card with advice where to take her baby to see the Plunket nurse; (b) We notify the Plunket Society the name and address etc., of each baby discharged so that if the mother does not call on them, ydur. visiting nurses may. if necessary, look them up. I have felt there has been overlapping and also want of cooperation between our children’s department and your department, but the hon. physician is anxious that the one system of, feeding be in vogue, so th"! we can work hand in hand. I will\ be u.lad and grateful to hear from you or have any further suggestions.” To this letter the following reply has been received from Dr. Truby King:— “I received your letter of October 20. and henrfilv sympathise with your suggestion and fully concur in the mode of instructing mothers and notifying the Plunket nurses. lam writing by the same nost to Airs. Hoskins, president, AVellington branch: it will therefore only be necessary for you to notify the Plunket nurse at 19 Kent Terrace, when the children leave hospital. I need scarcely say that we will do all in our power to facilitate matters and wish to thank you personally for your admirable suggestion. I have always felt very strongly that there ought to be co-oneration of the kind and that the Plunket nurse could do a very useful service in following up hospital baby cases and' ensuring continuity of treatment.” Dr. King further adds, in a footnote, that centres would have to be ; notified, as patients may be living beyond Wellington. x