DISTRICT NURSING.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16491, 5 March 1914, Page 5

DISTRICT NURSING.

WORK TO BE EXTENDED,

FUNDS SUBSIDISED BY THE GOVERNMENT.

The Christchurch District Nursing Association .ivhich has been' in existence in Christchurch for many years and which has done exceedingly good work under the superintendence of Nurse Maude in looking after the welfare of the sick and suffering poor in Christchurch- and suburbs, is about to begin a new chapter in its history. Since it was organised in a very small way many years ago it has relied altogether upon voluntary contributions, offerings, and church offertories.- -;;.v At the present time it is controlled by a committee of nine ladies and gentlemen, who represent various religious bodies, and it has a staff of three nurses and one probationer. Last year its revenue from all sources was just over £SOO and the whole ol that amount was expended in nurses’ salaries, rent, telephones and drugs. For some time past it has been felt that the work clone by the Association should receive some Government subsidy. Negotiations with this object in view have been proceeding for some time, and matters have been now arranged so that from April 1 the Association will continue its work on a different basis. The work will be extended and will cover a wider area which, of course, means that a larger staff will be required. The new arrangement is as follows:—The city and suburbs will be divided into two parts each worked by a nurse, an assistant nurse and a probationer, the whole of the work to be under the supervision and direction of Nnrse Maude. The appointment and control of the nursing staff will remain in the hands bLtthe' Christchurch District and a report of the work .will be befit into the Hospital Board every month or every quarter as may be necessary. The Association will receive from the Government a subsidy of 24s in the £ on its ordinary income. The Association will attend for a brief period on patients who may be discharged from the Hospital to make room for other patients when specially required to do so by the Hospital authorities. Under the new arrangement, _ the staff of the Association will consist of one superintending nurse, two senior nurses, -two junior nurses, two probationers and one office attendant, and this number may have to be increased before very long. The committee of the Association is of opinion that seeing its work is the relief and assistance of the sick and suffering poor.. without any inquiry as to the religion they prefers, it should receive assistance from the churches of all denominations, as the ■work it does is essentially of a Christian character. Later on the com’mittee will take steps to bring this matter under the. notice of the various religious bodies in order ,to see whether some financial assistance ■fibtf'be’&iven, as every twbhtyJhlllfiT'gs given' voluntarily A t6"tbe "funds of'the Association carries with it the Government subsidy of twenty-four shillings. It is hoped that under the new management the Association will be able to largely extend its work and so be of far greater assistance to the sick and suffering poor of Christchurch and suburbs than it has been able to be with its very limited means in the past.