DISTRICT NURSE FUND.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LVII, Issue LVII, 19 August 1910, Page 5

DISTRICT NURSE FUND.

MEETING OF SUBSCRIBERS. The annual meeting of subscribers and guarantors to \he Hawera District Nurse Fund was held on Thursday afternoon. Mr R. H. Nolan, President, occupied the chair, and there were also present: Mesdames Robertson, E. B. Bates, R. H. Nolan, Campbell, Mise Sutton, Drs Campbell, Thomson, Revs. J. R. Shore, J. R. Cassell, and Messrs W. A. Parkinson, H.W. Sutton, E. BBates' and F. Treweek (Secretary). The committee presented the following report: — "The meeting called to-day in connection with the District Nurse Fund was to give guarantors and subscribers a report on the workings since NurseHall took up her duties in October last year, to-day's report dealing on the work for ten months up to the 31st July last. The object of the scheme originally was to provide a nurse in ' case of emergency until the patient could be removed to the public or private hospital or until a trained nurse could be procured. The nurse's duty was also to attend the houses of the poor and indigent. Those persons in a position to pay for the nurse's services would be expected to do so, but to the poor and indigent her services were to be free. A public meeting was convened for the 21st July, 1909, and held in the Borough Council Chambers. At that meeting the following committee was appointed: — Mesdames J. K. Corrisan, H. A. Foyster. Dr Campbell, W. Robertson, B. McCarthy, E. B r Bates, and Misses Power and Sutton^ with Mr R. H. Nolan as Chairman. The dis f rict representatives were: Mrs J. V. Wyborn, Inaha ; Mrs J. W. Buchanan, Meremere; Mrs T. A. Winks, Ararata; Miss Lysaght, Mokoia; Mrs H. T. Lysaght, Normanby; and Mrs T. Joll. Okaiawa. It was considered advisable by the committee before engaging a nurse that her salary and expenses should be assured, and guarantors were canvassed for. The public readily responded to the scheme, and the sum of £120 was obtained by that means. Subscription lists were then issued, the public responding to the extent of £55 Bs. Included in this __ amount was £11 0s 6d raised by Mrs ' Joll from a concert held at Okaiawa. Applications were then called for the position, and Nurse Hall was finally selected from a number of applicants. Miss Hall was very soon busily engaged, and the following table of visits frives us an idea of the extent of her duties. 'Up to the end of last month 443 attendances were made, and' of* this number 147 were made in the cause of charity and not charged for. "By the accompanying statement it will be seen thai from receipt of fees and subscriptions the scheme has just paid its way, requiring no call to bo made on ihe guarantors. . Nurse Hall has now completed her period of engagement, and wishes to be relieved in a month' 8 time. Your committee regret that if you consider it advisable to continue the scheme Nurse Hall will not be at your disposal, as she has done yeoman work and given great satisfaction. "The financial statement Beads as .follows: — Donations £55 Bs, fees £61 ss: total, £116 13s. "Fees outstanding -total £7 9sy, and this amount is considered good by the committee. Expenditure. Salary „..£IOO 0 0 Telephone rent ... 5 18 10 Sundries 4 7 6 £110 6 4 "Which leaves about £13 15s 8d is hand." ' , . Tbe President pointed out that about one-third of the Avork had been done for charity, and incidentally remarked that it was not the intention, nor had j it ever been; of the committee to inter- ' fere with the hospitals or the doctors. On the other hand, it was the inten- / tion to feed the public and private in-. / stitutions. Nurse Hall was an emer--; gency nurse whose services could not i be kept longer than four days at any ', one time. Mr Parkinson enquired if the subscriptions carried a subsidy from ' ttie i Government or the Hospital Board. The President: No. ; Mi 1 Parkinson thought that one- ' third for charity was a high percentage, and asked if the committee investigated the cases. Tlie President replied that a charge was made in every case, and all were ; investigated. If the patient was un- / able to pay then no charge was made, j Mr Sutton said he was sorry that ', the committee were losing Miss Hall, \ whom he spoke of in very compliment- ' ary terms. The scheme, he thought, should be continued. It had not affected the hospital in any way. He would be pleased to give his support for another year, and moved: "That the nursing scheme be con- i tinued if funds can be raised," and j the following committee be appoint- j ed: Mesdames Corrigan, Foyster, Dr Campbell, and Misses Power and. Sutton. with power to add to their number." Rev. Cassefl seconded the motioH. Dr Campfeell said he was sure everyone agreed that the scheme had beeift a great success. All the patients had spoken highly of Nurse Hall. ' " Dr Thomson said Nurse Hall hai done most excellent Ayork, which tie could personally -testify to. Her services in emergency cases had been invaluable. He was sorry that Nurse Hall was leaving the district. Mr Parkinson thought it was veiy satisfactory to know that £he medical men unreservedly supported the scheme. Rev. Shore «aid that in the course of his visitation he had come across the good work done by Nurse Hall. He had heard on all sides nothing but eulogy of Nurse Hall. He thought it was desirable that the scheme be continued. The motion was carried unanimously. The President moved a hearty vote of thanks to the Secretary for his gratuitous services. This was carried by acclamation. Mr Treweek briefly replied. On the motion of Mesdames Campbell and Robertson Mr Nolan was reelected President. The Secretary said the ladies were very pleased with the great interest Mr Nolan took in the work. Tlie President proposed a hearty vote of thanks to Nurse Hall for her splendid services. Mr Sutton seconded the motion, and it was carried. A similar compliment was passed to the ladies.