WELLINGTON DISTRICT NURSES

Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 41, 16 February 1918, Page 9

WELLINGTON DISTRICT NURSES

EXCELLENT WORK DESCRIBED

A very necessary and splendid work is being carried on quietly in Wellington by 'the two "nurses of the District Nursing Guild of St. John—Nurse Favam and Nurse Martin. A certain amount of misapprehension has arisen from the fact that the guild was founded under the Order of St. John, and many people imagine that tho funds for the work come from the well-known St. John Ambulance organisation. As a matter of fact, the guild was started by, money subscribed and collected from Wellington citizens for the purpose of providing skilled nurses to attend the poor of the city m their own homes. The capital fund k sufficient to provide an income which pays the actual salaries and rent of the office, but for the emergency fund, medicine fund, and other necessaries money is needed.

Both nurses . agree as to the reality of poverty in Wellington—poverty which' in many cases is unavoidable and most distressing, especially among some very old folks who -are quit* unable to work. In the poor homes of these, and of many widows and children, the lack of comforts and bareness of necessaries is sad indeed. The emergency fund is always used to the last penny, and more is often desirable. A specimen case was mentioned where the_ nurse found in a sick woman's house literallyl only a crust of bread for the patient and her children. Many hesitate to apply for charitable aid, especially those who have known better days,, and the nurse 3 are able to intervene and make the arrangements for help. , Nurse Faram, who has recently returned from a visit to London, said that she was surprised at the lamentable condition of some of the dwellings in Wellington. 111-built, ramshackle, and in sore" need of repairs, if they were not inhabited by respectable poor folk whose necessities oblige them to take such houses, they might well be called "slums." There is great over-crowding also in many houses, and the reason was probably the scarcity of dwellings and the high rents. Both nurses consider that there is urgent necessity for better buildings, or, at least, "cleaning up" and repairs. ■

The work always goes on, and last month 373 visits were paid' by ( the two capable and cheery ladies, who are greatly helped by the appreciation and nffection they meet with in their rounds. In the winter months there is more work, and also on iha occasion of epidemics, but the last-mentioned do not often occur here and are capably handled. Great praise was given to the Charitable Aid Board and the War! Eelief Association, both of whom are ready and kindly in their help, and the Wellington doctors also received hearty and grateful commendation for their generous assistance.

The emergency fund is needed specially when the necessity of the people will not allow of tho delay in making arrangements with the Charitable Aid or War Relief authorities, as well as for little necessary comforts for some of the poorest, cases. Mrs. W. H. S. Moorhouse, the president of the guild, and Miss Edmeades, the secretary, will be very glad to receive donations, and the nurses are always glad of old linen or good secondhand clothing, which may be left at 91 Ghuznee-street, or will be 3ent for if notice be'given.