DISTRICT NURSING SCHEME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15307, 21 May 1913, Page 8

DISTRICT NURSING SCHEME.

GRADUALLY BEING ADOPTED AUCKLAND BOARD'S POSITION THE MATTER DEFERRED. The question of .")the -, adoption-:., of the Health Department's, district .nurses scheme was tentatively before ; the Auckland Hospital Board - at. its meeting last night. , •„ . . < ■:". The district health officer ■ (Dr. Makgill) submitted a"; plan" for the district nurses' cottage, for. two patients, * which the board proposes... to erect at Warkworth. This was referred to the Buildings Committee/ to arrive at ah estimate of the cost of the structure. <. At a later stage a, letter from the Inspector-General .;.■! of Hospitals '■-■:■, • (Dt. ?? M. A. . Valintine) was;; read,'^stating t that so far- eight hospital boards had adopted the scheme for supplying general-and maternity nurses to the settlers in the back blocks, and? there were now eleven nurses working ■in differr t parts.;? Other boards : had made inquiries regarding ' the scheme and announced their intention of appointing such nurses. - ' v . ;;. - J •'The Auckland hospital, district," the inspector-general r ■;; proceeded, ?jj*t embracing | as it does a .wide area of country, would ! certainly' benefit -by' ; the appointment of nurses, say, about ; ; Henderson, Port Al- '■ bert or ' Wellsford, ■ and Papakura. ' At] Warkworth "* the board has already %zx?\ ranged for? a nurse. ; It is ! difficult' to say exactly, without inspection of ;suggested! centres in ■ the ; district, where nurses might most advantageously be stationed, but I would be glad■ to"help? the ;board;by instructing the district health 'officer to report -on the conditions of the people as regards medical ;and' nursing attendance'at different localities." . . > V ..-, The writer added that the remuneration given was ; usually by ;at salary ; of:'; £150, part of which was collected 'by the settlers of the district and paid to the Hospital Board, thereby .; receiving, .subsidy; any fees collected to be paid to the board or to a local committee. 'He? enclosed ; a copy of ■ the rules which had' been approved by the British . ; Medical ; '^ ,; Association, and under which the members thereof are prepared to assist in the scheme. > The chairman ? (Mr. J, ;, M.i Mennie) said that ': if the board was'_' to establish - district? •nurses in the various centres, it was going to be a matter for serious consideration. ? Further discussion, of the ? question was deferred until -a the .-, next i. meeting ?' of £ the board.