PLUNKET SOCIETY’S MEETING

Southland Times, Issue 24004, 20 December 1939, Page 9

PLUNKET SOCIETY’S MEETING

MONTHLY REPORT OF NURSES Mrs R. M. Strang presided over a meeting of the executive committee of the Invercargill branch of the Plunket Society. The thanks of the committee were extended to the Mataura branch of the Plunket Society, which forwarded the proceeds of a very successful drive held to collect provisions, foodstuffs and eggs for the Truby King-Hunt Hospital, Mrs Strang said these were very acceptable and that the Mataura branch had earned the gratitude of those in charge, for the very practical manner in which it showed its goodwill to the hospital. The Invercargill branch forwarded its congratulations and best wishes to the Dunedin branch on the occasion of the opening of the new Truby King-Harris Hospital in that city. Mrs Strang said that the evidence of the progress and popularity of these baby and mothercraft hospitals was shown in Invercargill by the necessity of increasing accommodation at the local hospital, where a commodious nurses’ home was in course of erection. The nurses reported as follows: Matron Ingold, of the Truby KingHunt Hospital, reported for November that the number of patients in on October 31 were: Mothers 2, babies 9, total 11; number of patients admitted for treatment, mothers 7, babies 15, total 22; number of patients discharged, mothers 6, babies 11, total 17; number of patients in on November 30, mothers 3, babies 13, total 16; biggest number in on any one day, mothers 3, babies 13, total 16; daily average number of babies 10.56; source of admission, mothers, Balfour, Bluff, Lomeville, Mataura, Menzies Ferry; babies, Balfour, Bluff, Gore, Invercargill, Lomeville, Menzies Ferry, Otautau, Wyndham. There were 209 visitors. Nursing staff: Miss Olga Cooney commenced training. The following gifts were acknowledged: Ashets and plates from Mrs McKenzie and Mrs Fraser; eggs from Wrights Bush Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union; jam from Mrs Hinchey and Mrs Russell; tea wagon from Miss Rowley; provisions from Mataura Plunket Society; repairing and staining trays, Mr W. Cawthorn. Nurse Mclntyre, of the Anderson Plunket Home, in her report on Waikiwi for November, reported that the number of visits paid to Waikiwi were 4, to homes 48, to office (adults) 111, to office (babies) 106, older children, 24. The general health of babies was good. Nurse Mclntyre reported for November: Total number of new cases (town and country) 66; new cases at centre (babies only) 46; new cases at centres: breast fed 35, supplemented 4, artificially fed 7; visits to homes (new cases) 76; visits to homes (old cases) 440; visits to office (adults) 733; visits to office (babies) 690; visits to office (older children) 101; babies under supervision 955; older children tinder supervision 258; letters received 12; letters written 13; health of babies satisfactory. Nurse Rhind’s report on out-stations was: . , South Invercargill: Visits to homes 113; visits to rooms, adults 217, babies 209, older children 10, new cases 5. Visits to rest rooms, adults 84, babies 78, older children 14, new cases 6. Nurse Mclntyre’s report on subbranches was: „ , ... \ Bluff: Visits to branches 4; visits to homes 32; rooms, adults 79, older children 18, new cases 8. Riverton: Visits to branches 4;. visits to homes 7; rooms, adults 58, babies 58, older children 2, new cases 2. . . Tuatapere: Visits to branches 4; visits to homes 23; rooms, adults 55, babies 51, older children 7, new cases 3. Otautau: Visits to branches 2;. visits to homes 8; rooms, adults 31, babies 31, older children 2, new cases 3. Orepuki: Visits to branches 2; rooms adults 11, babies 11, older children 1. Ohai: Visits to branches 2; visits to homes 17; rooms, adults 18, babies 18, older children 3, new cases 2. Nightcaps: Visits to branches 1; visits to homes 11; rooms, adults 9, babies 9, older children 5. Tokanui: Visits to branches 1; visits to homes 14; rooms, adults 11, babies 10, older children 1, new cases 2.