PLUNKET SOCIETY’S MEETING

Southland Times, Issue 24104, 18 April 1940, Page 9

PLUNKET SOCIETY’S MEETING

MONTHLY REPORT OF NURSES

The monthly meeting of the committee of the Invercargill branch of the Plunket Society was held in the Southland Women’s Club yesterday. Mrs R. M. Strang presided over the following members of the committee: Mesdames J. Robertson, A. E. Bath, E. E. Boyd, W. Hinchey, J. R. Hanan, E. Hargreaves, A. S. Hogg, D. Kilkelly, J. Pickard, A. S. Russell, L. C. Smith and R. P. Fish. Apologies were received from Mesdames T. F. Gilkison, A. Derbie and Anderson.

Before comntencing the business of the meeting those present stood in silence as a .mark of respect to the memory of the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage. Mrs Strang reported having attended the opening of the new Karitane Nurses’ Home at Christchurch, and also a meeting of the Dominion Council of the society in Wellington. The secretary reported receiving a further 10/6 donation to the Truby King Memorial Fund. Miss J. P. Marshall of Dunedin has been appointed Sister at the Karitane-Hunt Hospital in place of Miss McLean, who has accepted a position at Wellington Karitane Hospital. The following were appointed visiting committees for next month:

Karitane: Mesdames Strang, Gilkison, Smith, Hinchey, Hargreaves and Robertson; Anderson Home: Mrs Hogg. Waikiwi: Mrs Robertson; Rest room: Mrs Pickard; South Invercargill: Mrs Boyd.

The maton of the Truby King-Hunt Hospital (Miss Ingold) reported for March that the numbers of patients in on February 29 were: Mothers 2, babies 9, total 11; number of patients admitted for treatment, mothers 6, babies 10, total 16; number of patients discharged, mothers 6, babies 10, total 16; number of patients in on March 31, mothers 2, babies 9, total 11; largest number in on any one day, mothers 2, babies 12, total 14; daily average number of babies 9.29. Source of admission, mothers, Five Rivers, Invercargill, Otautau, Waikaka, Wyndham; babies, Five Rivers, Gore, Invercargill, Nightcaps, Otautau. Miss Joan Curtis began training. There were 160 visitors. The matron acknowledged the gift of a palm stand from Mrs Reekie, and a push-chair from Mrs Robson, Mataura, vegetables from Mrs H. Mclntyre, and knitting and sewing from Miss Nola Scandrett and Miss Molly Smillie. Nurse Mclntyre’s report on subbranches was: i

Bluff: Visits to branches 4, visits to homes 38, to rooms, adults 69, babies 69, older children 2, new cases L Riverton: Visits to branches 4, homes 19, to rooms, ad '.lts 30, babies 30, older children 4, new cases 1. Tuatapere; Visits to branches 3, homes

16, to rooms, adults 28, babies 28, older children 2, new cases 2. Otautau: Visits to branches 2, homes 10, to rooms, adults 31, babies 31, older children 1, new cases 6. Orepuki: Visits to branches 2, to rooms, adults 10, babies 10, older children 1, new cases 1.

Nightcaps: Visits to branches 1, homes 5, to rooms, adults 8, babies 8, older children 1, new cases 2. Tokanui: Visits to branches 1, homes 15, to rooms, adults 17, babies 14, older children 4, new cases 2. Nurse Mclntyre’s report on outstations was:

South Invercargill: Visits paid to homes 134, to rooms, adults 141, babies 154, older children 22, new cases 3. Rest rooms: adults 120, babies 112, older children 12, new cases 5. Nurse Mclntyre’s monthly report for Waikiwi was: Number of visits paid to Waikiwi 4, homes 25, to office, adults, 114, babies 108, older children 13, new cases for the month 1. General health of babies good. The full report for the month was. Total new cases (town and country), 56; total new cases at centre (babies only) 39; new cases at centres, breast fed 30, supplemented 3, artificially fed 6; visits to homes (new cases) 49, (old cases) 425; visits to office (adults) 718, (babies) 683, (older children) 79; babies under supervision 937; older children under supervision 199; letters received 11; letters written 12. Health of babies fairly good.