DISTRICT NURSING.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12424, 13 February 1901, Page 2

DISTRICT NURSING.

AMONG THE SICK POOR. ' MORE HELP WANTED. Miss Sybil Maude, who for three yeara was matron of the Christchurch Hospital, and who last year went Home for rest,, and to pass a, still higher examination in stilled nui.sing, returned to Christchurch "by the Monowai on Friday, to resume her work as a district nurse. It is eight years or more siriffe Misa Maude, imbued Avdth the spirit which impels so many British ladies to join the ranks of phiianthrophy and devote their lives arid efforts to working for the good of their fellow-creatures, went to England, to train as a miree, so that she could come back to her home in Christchurch and work amongst the sick poor of her native city. . The special mission .she had made her own was to nurse the side poor in their own homes. ' . . Miss Maude entered upon her training with energy and enthusiasm, and for three years had charge of a ward in the Middlesex Hospital. After her curriculum at Home she came out to Christchurch, and w.as for three years in command of the nursing department of the Christchurch Hospital, but the,great work that lay nearest her heart was that of the district nurse, and that work she at once entered upon after leaving the hospital. . The work done by the district nurse is not so well Mowini to the public as it Should be. During the year, previous to Miss Maude's last visit to England she paid 1600 nursing visits to ,po'or homes in this city, and this in .itself is a very severe tax upon any one woman's energies. Little wonder her own health gave way under the strain. As the work is 'tot little known it receives but little support from thepublie and the subscribers to it are few. From the Hyman Marks fund a subsidy is given, from, St Michael's and Sydenham parishesfinancial assistance comes, and 'from the pockets of a few private subscribers, one lady subscribing very handsomely indeed. If only another '£Bo a year could be obtained Miss Maude would at once have by her side a second arorse, but there as work indeed for m-any more . In England and Scotland fthe value of the district nurse is fully appreciated, and she is to be found at work in "all the centres of population, and supported by the regular if email contributions! of the great mass of the people. In the manufacturing towns the factory girls collect these sums weekly, and together they amount to a fair amount, sufficient! to keep a number of nurses employed at their -philanthropic labours. _ At present Miss (Maude can only work in the daytime, but if sufficient assistance were given to Iter many weary hours of the roghb spent 'by the sick poor would foe greatly lightened. . . On 'the voyage over in the -Monowai Miss Maude was a fellow passenger with Mr Seddon and Mr W. W. Collins. The-Premier was greatly interested in Miss Maude s work, and favoured a Bill to provide for sufficient nursing in all the four large centres of population-. Mr Seddon sent her to Mr W. W. Collins, who fell in love with the idea, and will doubtless follow it up with characteristic enthusiasm. Miss Maude says there-is a New' Zealand youno- lady now in London, <a (Middlesex Hospital student, who is ready to come out to tho colony and engage in district nursing if a sphere is found for 'her, so that those who are willing to find funds may rest assured that the work will be carried on if fhey will supply the necessary means.