HOSPITAL ALMONERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22741, 29 November 1935, Page 14

HOSPITAL ALMONERS

LINK WITH SOCIAL SERVICE TRAINING COURSE INSTITUTED The institution of a special course for the training of selected nurses as hospital almoners was referred to in a communication received by the Otago Hospital Board at its meeting last nigh£ from tlie Director-general of Health, Dr M. H. Watt. The director-general emphasised the necessity, owing to the increasing need for wider knowledge of the social conditions of patients, for a hospital almoner, who would become the link between the hospital and the outside social eerviee. It would seem that a nurse of special personality and training would be a very suitable officer to develop that work. With the object of preparing speciallyselected nurses, the department was making available in connection with the postgraduate course next year a special section to provide that training. The course planned would be of 10 months' duration and would cover the principles of public health and hospital administration, psychology, social economics and social case work, and would include visits of observation to all social organisations, together with four months spent in the Almoner's Department of the Wellington Hospital to gain experience in the practical application of the work. The letter was referred to the Hospital Committee for a report.