District Nursing Guild

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 53, 5 March 1935, Page 3

District Nursing Guild

RECEIVES DEPUTATION FROM HOSPITAL

WORK OF GUILDS UNDER REVIEW

At the monthly meeting of -the District Nursing Guild, presided over by Mr. .T. A. Nash, M.P., in the City Council chambers yesterday afternoon, a deputation was received from the Palmerston North Hospital Board, led by klr. J. K. Hornblow (chairman of the board) with Messrs A. J. Pliillipps (man-aging-secretary), R. A. L. Aitchison; J. Hudgens and Victor Smith (Fcilding). Its purpose was 10 confer with tho guild over matters pertaining to district nursing; over the appointment of an extra district nurse to cope with the growing amount of work and population; car for district nurse; bettef equipment for the district nurse’s cottage, and the better co-ordination of the work between the Hospital Board and the guild.

Mr. Hornblow said that a few months ago .tho board had passed a resolution that a sub-committee should confer with the district committees at Palmerston North, Feilding and Shannon to discuss with them matters concerning district nursing, and to make recommendations in a report to the board. “I would like the committee to know how much the board has appreciated the good work done, not only by the committee in this centre, but also by other committees operating in other parts of the district,” said Mr. Hornblow. It was felt that supervision should be carried out so far as finances, etc., were concerned, and that the board should have the right to appoint certain of tlTeir own nurses. “We feel that the time has arrived to have two nurses here instead of one,” said Mr. Hornblow. The matter of equipment for the nurse’s house had been brought forward, at the meeting of the board, and tho matter discussed as to whether the Hospital Board would acquire that property and have it properly equipped. The question of a car would also come forward. The suggestion had been made that a refresher course at the hospital, for tho district nurse, would be a good plan. Tho time had arrived when the board felt they should formulate a policy for tho wholo district, and to bring up a policy to govern outstations. “Wo have got to face up to tbe position,” said Mr. Hornblow. “Tho appointment of nurses in certain parts of the district is not receiving the attention it should.” Continuing,'he said in

the appointment oL' these nurses they would have to conic to a definito policy in connection with tho nurses’ division. For it. to operate with tho Hospital Board they would have to control the whole of the district nursing. Nothing that the guild had done was being deprecated; they would welcome tho continued co-operation and help it had given in tho past. Mr. Nash agreed that the time was ripe for something to bo done in order to develop district nursing work, to keep up with the development of the district. He agreed that another nurse was needed. The guild had been in operation for 22 years, and a great amount of interest came from the fact that the district nurse attended the meetings and from the nurse being in touch with the guild, pointed out Mr. Nash.

Mr. Phillipps outlined a scheme to show how tho work of the guild could bo co-ordinated with the hospital work with the latter hospital as a nucleus.

Their purpose, said Mr. Hornblow, was to get one basic policy for the district and to retain the co-operation of the committee as it existed.

Palmerston North was the largest district in New Zealand that had no organised auxiliary of women to -work with tho Hospital Board, said Mr. Phillipps. The guild could become a very valuable auxiliary to the Hospital Board.

Tho suggestion was made and generally uphold among the ladies that the guild would loso the district nurse, and that she would work under tho Hospital Board instead of the Guild Committee,

Having put forward their point of view, the deputation withdrew. The board has already conferred with the guilds at Feilding and Shannon.