DISTRICT NURSING.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 114, 5 July 1911, Page 2

DISTRICT NURSING.

FOR THE W HANG AMOM ON A DISTRICT. SCHEME APR ROVED. At the June meeting of the Hospital Board Mr Moveditu was asked to canvass the settlers m the Whangamoimma district with a view to timlout what support would he forthcoming for a district nurse. At yesterday’s meeting Mr Aim edith reported that altuougii settlers thought the idea was an excellent one tne matter of finance stood m tne way in each case. They thought that if they had to engage the nurse in their homes at a cost of £3 3s a week it would he just as well to bring the patient to Stratford. Until Uiey knew what the probable cost would be the settlers would not give any guarantee of support. Mr Bellringer, chairman of the Taranaki Hospital Board,’ was m attendance, and was asked by the ( hairman to explain the district nursing scheme.i Ho said the district nursing scheme was- one of the things in connection with hospital matters ’in which he took a great interest, and his paper on the question had been cordially received at the recent Hospitals Conference. He was convinced that the movement would spread. The question of finance should not be allowed to obtrude itselfi, as the saving of human life was the most important matter. Every district: should he able to raise £SO a year, which would enable them to secure the services of a nurse. District nurses were of the greatest assistance in out-lying districts, such as were common in Tairanaki. At Uruti the Taranaki i Board had established a district nurse and the settlers were delighted with the scheme. The nurse at Uruti had saved more than one life. Settlers should be asked to supply a guarantee. A hundred at ten shillings or fifty at a pound would, provide £SO. On this the Government subsidy would he £6O, leaving £4O to be provided by the Hospital Board, to make up the £l5O per year which it, was thought should he paid to the nurse. If Wliangamomona got a good nurse, he was sure they woxdd never go back on the scheme. As to accommodation, it was usually endeavoured to have her put up at the house attached to the school iix the district, . at her own expense, of course. At Uruti it was usually found that the nurse spent the most of her time between the houses of the settlers in attending to illness. Mr Meredith stated that there were numbers of suitable persons in the district who could put up the nurse. Mr Belli’ingei said thev affairs of the nurse would be managed by a committee chosen from the contributors. At Uruti 25s per week was charged for the nurse’s services, subscribers to the guarantee fund being charged only £l. If there was a surplus at the end of.the year he thought it should be set aside, for the purpose of providing a small cottage hospital. Mr Meredith said he had put the position wrongly to the settlers. Ho was under the impression that,each settler would have to pay full fees. He was sure fhe settlers would approve the scherpe. as explained. Mr Bellringer said that at the Wellington conference a delegate, had said that if the Government taxed land which they were opening for settlement to ensure that a nurse would be stationed op the land, the ,land would be selected very much more quickly than at present. Mr Ward moved that if Whangamomona settlers subscribe £6O the Board will. subsidise the amount (with Government subsidy) up to £l5O. For some years, he said, the settlers in the district had been agitating for a doctor, but had so far been unable to get one. He believed Hie district nurse would do a great deal of good, and the settlers would thou recognise that the Board had done something for them.

Mr Bellringer 1 said that some of the Taranaki Board members desired the nurse to he self-supporting, but personally he believed in the Board retaining some control. One of the chief things the nurse would guarantoe would be comfort for acute patients who were being sent to the general hospital. Mr Meredith seconded the motion. The settlers, he was sure, would appreciate the scheme, and ho had no doubt that the necessary funds would be readily forthcoming. Already there was a sum of money lying in the bank for some such purpose. The Whangamomona County Council had decided to give a subsidy towards a doctor, and he thought they would give a subsidy to the nurse. Mr Bellringer: If you can get two nurses all the better. Mr Marchant said the scheme had his full sympathy, but he would prefer the sum being £SO instead of £6O as provided, as the latter sum seemed onerous in view of the fact that settlors will have to pay fees in addition. He thought the fee of £1 a week was rather low. He would recommend a charge of 3s 6d a day. A nurse might be in a house only four days and might not like to charge for a whole week and could thus make no charge. The motion was carried. Mr Bellringer said he was delighted with the morning’s proceedings. He had strong sympathy for the scheme and thought they had done the correct thing in giving it a start. He felt sure the proposed nurse would soon not be the only one in the Board’s district—other districts would see the necessity of the nurses and would adopt the scheme. Air Kennedy; Would it he easy to got a nurse suitable for the work? We can get hospital nurses, but this work may be different. Mr Bellringer said Dr Valintino had promised that on being advised he would send up a good nurse. Air Ward said the Board should write to the Whangamomona County Council asking for its support to the scheme. Also gentlemen should bs chosen in various localities to look after the scheme. It was no use nutting a resolution on the books and just waiting for some kind gentleman to carry it out. A number of names were suggested and these are to be written to.