PLUNKET SOCIETY

Evening Star, Issue 25620, 22 October 1945, Page 8

PLUNKET SOCIETY

RECENT ACTIVITIES The monthly meeting of the committee of the Dunedin branch of the Plunket Society, held last Friday, was attended by Mrs L. F. Cleghorn (in the chair), Lady Sidey, Mesdames J. Begg, I. Carr, W. E. Earnshaw, W. Jones, H. L. Longbottom, D. McKillop, L. de la Perellc, W. Sowerby, S. Thompson, J. Thompson, W. E. Taverner, J. Ward, J. Bauld, and C. Allen (Wakari), H. J. I. Sinclair (Anderson’s Bay), C. Flamank and J. Riddick (Pine Hill), N. D. Anderson and J. Dove (St. Kilda), R. E. Alexander (Macandrew Bay), R. L. Park and W. Mime (Green Island), A. Roy and J. Hill (Port Chalmers), W.. Frances (Portobello), P. Walker (Waverley), A. Cameron (Maori Hill), Misses E. Johnston, D. Kyle, M. Scott, and D. Theomin.

The matron of the Truby KingHarris Hospital reported that during September 18 mothers and 31 babies were admitted, and 17 mothers and 29 babies were discharged. Ten premature babies were admitted during the month, four of whom were twins. It was necessary to use the weakling ward as a second premature ward,, as there were still 14 babies needing premature care. The demand for beds in the. mothercraft section had not been sufficient to keep the section working to capacity all the month, but the demand was greater towards the end of the month.

The charge nurse reported that 11 medical students attended the rooms for clinical observation in September. Another group of seven mothers had been instructed in budgeting and food values by Mrs Connor, of the Home Science School. Mis H. Liddell spent four days in Oamaru assisting the Oamaru Plunket nursing staff to man the Plunket section of the Mobile Health Exhibition, Miss N. Scott relieving her for the period. A lecture was given to the Mornington and Central Parents Group on ‘ Building Healthy Teeth.’ Thanks were due to the dental section of the Health Department for a collection of models, which added greatly to the talk. These models were again used in giving a lecture on the same subject to the senior girls of St. Hilda’s Collegiate School. The nurses had presented a complete set of children’s winter clothing to the committee for display in the committee room.

The summary of the Dunedin Plunket nurses’ work showed that during September there were 1,794 babies on the list. A total of 1,400 visits had been paid to homes and 4,319 to offices.

The Karitane Nurses’ Bureau has been functioning for just over three weeks, and the bureau secretary reported that she had been in touch with the nurses throughout Otago and Southland, and found that most of them are at present engaged on cases. The different cases are divided into full-time private eases, day cases, maternity hospital, and bahies in the nurses’ homes. There had been numbers of inquiries from mothers requiring nurses, and several cases had heen arranged. The nurses and mothers wore co-operating well with the bureau, and it was hoped it would prove of even more value in the future.

A report was received from Miss M. Liddiard, nursing director, Mothercraft Training Society, setting out how much Cromwell House had suffered through bombing raids during the war years. It was decided to raise £SO to purchase clothing for the babies in the Mothercraft Training Centre. The committee was pleased to learn that, the result of Daffodil Day now amounted to £1,600, and expressed its gratitude to the public who so genorousty responded to the appeal.