Objections To New Plunket System At Reefton Voiced

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 November 1949, Page 8

Objections To New Plunket System At Reefton Voiced

Objections to joining in a scheme for a combined Health-Plunket nurse, whose headquarters would be at Reefton, were made by the Ikamatua. and Waiuta delegates at the quarterly meeting of the Greymouth branch of the New Zealand Plunket Society at Greymouth recently. The Reefton sub-branch delegates also stated that, in view of the probable cost of the scheme, the position would have to be re-considered. This information is to be conveyed to the Dominion secretary, Miss Rapps, and the Reefton body is also to take the matter up with headquarters. ■ < The matter came up for discussion when correspondence from the Dominion secretary setting out the conditions under which the scheme had been agreed upon with the Health Department had been read. Opposed To Change The Waiuta and Ikamatua delegates slated that their branches were opposed to making the change and preferred to remain under Greymouth. Their main objection was because of the increased financial burden. They also considered that they received excellent service from the Greymouth nurses and did not wish to come under the new scheme, concerning which they had not been consulted. The Reefton delegates stated that their committee had approached the Health Department because they felt the Health-Plunket nurse service would be of value to the district as a whole; also because the unsatisfactory train timetable gave the Greymouth nurse insufficient time in Reefton. However, since receiving the information concerning the probable cost of the scheme they would have to reconsider the question. After further discussion it was decided that the secretary write to Miss Rapps stating the sub-branchs’ objection to the scheme, and that Reefton sub-branch also take up the question with Head Office. A motion of condolence with Mrs A. J. Fairmaid, a member of the executive, in her bereavement was carried.

Renovation Of Rooms

It was decided to write to the Borough Council suggesting a conference be held to discuss the renovation of the rooms.

Reports on matters in connection with the Rose Day appeal this month were received and preparations in hand should ensure a successful appeal. A welcome to Mrs E. Bunt, a new committee member, and Mrs F. G. Wilkins, the recently-appointed secretary, was extended by the President Mrs F. A. Kitchingham. Proceeds from annual collections were returned by the following:—Mrs Parfitt £ll 7s lOd; Mesdames Clarke and Steel £8 12s 6d and Mesdames Taylor and Wallis £1 2s 6d (additional), making their total £l4 Bs. It was reported that Beath and Co. had offered to stage a special window display in connection with the Rose Day appeal. Appreciation was expressed for the offer. Nurse’s Report The nurse’s statistical report was received as follows: —New cases 38; visits to homes, 248; to rooms, babies 299, pre-school 44, adults 330; number of babies under supervision 533; car mileage 664. Mrs F. A. Kitchingham presided and the following were present: Mesdames Wallis, Taylor, Steel, Boucher, Parfitt, Clarke, Wilkins, Bunt, Kehoe, Pfahlert, O’Brien, McCarthy and Miss Anderson, Mrs Coates (Brunner), Radford and Scott (Waiuta), Mirfin, August and Collyer (Ikamatua), Chilton (Blackball), Smith and McElwee (Reefton), and Flood and Grogan (Runanga).