TRUBY KING WORK

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 4 January 1927, Page 6

TRUBY KING WORK

fS|ASUSHMENT IN ENGLAND

SOME INTERESTING INFORAIATION

Miss Liddiard, matron of the Crorriwell House Hospital (Lpndon), who lias been spending a few clays in Nelson as the. guest of Miss Atkinson, left for Wellington last nigh tin continuation of her tour of the Dominion. The hospital is run on the same lines as the Karitane Homes in New Zealand; and in order enable Miss Liddiard to give some information as to the work now being done in London, the Committee of the Nelson Plunket Society) the nurses and a few others interested, assembled at Miss Atkinson’s residence yesterday afternoon.

In the co'urse«of an interesting address Miss Liddiard stated that, the work was started under great, difficulties in war time in 1918 by Sir Truby King and Miss Patrick. Two houses were taken in Trebouir Road, Earl’s Court, and a training centre founded similar to the Kari'tane. Hospital', Dunedin. When Sir Tnifay left England the centre became affiliated to St. Thomas’s Hospital, Dr. Fairbairn , became Hon. Consultant Physician and Dr. Jewesbury Hon. Medical Director. Although there had been times of great financial difficulties the work .itself had steadily increased from the beginning. An out-patient department (clinics for mothers) was established, and frorfi an attendance averaging 10 to 12 there" was nßw an average of 120 weekly. Many mothers travelled long distances to obtain the special advice, 'Mothers of all"classes could attend'. TRAINING COURSES The training included the training of (a) Hospital trained nurses; (b) midwives; and (c) untrained girls. There were also Special mothercraft courses fer expectant, mothers, young inexperienced mothers or girls engaged to be married. These courses consisted of two after noons a > week for six weeks, beginning with' a'talk on a special subject and ending with a practical demonstration. These'courses were becoming increasingly popular and were attended by women from all classes. Iri 1920 the "Women’s Pictorial’’ (a weekly magazine) approached the So : ciety as'to whether they would' undertake a weekly article and correspondence column, and this was done, and in the first month 60 letters giving advice to ..mothers were written and in September 1826 over 2000. In 1922 the total letters answered was 4050, and in 1925 the total was 14,803. These letters wpre made both personal and educational. LARGER PREMISES In 1925 the move was made to larger premises. An old house dating back to 1638, with two acres of ground was purchased at HiglTgate, North London. A mortgage of £6OOO was taken up, the house adapted and a small laundry built. At present the Society had not been able to build a nurses’ home.

During tile first year the expenditure of upkeep etc. was exactly double that of the previous year and the income had more (ban doubled.

Trilby King principles had now become firmly established in England, and it was hoped that training centres and baby hospitals would be started in other towns before many years are past.