PLUNKET SOCIETY

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 237, 8 May 1933, Page 8

PLUNKET SOCIETY

Report for the Year

The following is the annual report of the Plunkot Society, which will he presented at the forthcoming annual meeting: Your Committee have great pleasure in presenting the Nineteenth Annual Report, Statement of Accounts and Balance Sheet for the year ending 31st March, 1933. Meetings of the General Committee have been held tnroughout the year on the first Wednesday of cacti month, with the exception of May and January; and in addition the executive Committee has met three limes and the Advisory Board once, it is with some alarm that a fallingoff in attendance at General Committee meetings has been noted; and u may not he out of place to lodge here un appeal to members to show a more sustained interest in the executive work of the Branch by attending meetings more consistently. For some months past business has been carried on only by a small and faithful hand, and it is naturally somewhat discouraging that the younger members (most of whom are direct beneficiaries of the Society) are not sufficiently interested to attend the meetings.

This year has witnessed some changes in the personnel of the Society. in August last Nurse E. M. Paynter, who had occupied the position of Plunket Nurse to this Branch for four years, left us to join the relieving staff. Her place was taken by Miss G. Hooper, wiiose slay with us has been all too short. Nurse Hooper is now about to leave us m order that she may alicnd the international Nursing Conference to he held in Paris in July next. She lias never spared herself in the service of the Branch, and it is largely due to her that the work in this district now rests on a firm and successful footing. We are sure that the good wishes of every member of this Branch will follow her when she goes abroad; and our gratitude is due to her for the spirit and enthusiasm she has brought to bear on the work during the months she has been Plunket Nurse to this Branch. Miss Hooper will be succeeded by Miss A. R. Mason, who will, we are certain, ably carry on the tradition of service to humanity which has ever been the aim of the Society. In June last we were very pleased to receive a visit from Miss Pattrick, Director of Plunket Nursing, who was able to spare us a little lime on her way South from New Plymouth. The Executive Committee much enjoyed an informal talk with Miss Pattrick, and were greatly interested to gather from her what, perhaps, had not previously been realised, viz., that this is one of the largest and busiest onenurse districts in New Zealand. We have, on an average, nineteen new cases per mouth in this district, whereas the average for the Dominion as a whole is much lower. It will thus be seen that the position of Plunket Nurse to this Branch is by no means an easy one. An interesting Conference of delegates from all the Taranaki Branches was held at Stratford last October, when business relative to the Provincial Conference at Wanganui was discussed. We hope this meeting will be followed by others of a like nature. With regard to the financial position of this Branch, the Statement of Accounts and Balance Sheet disclose a state of affairs which is little short of astonishing when compared with the position shown at this time last year. The splendid response made by the public to our needs during the “Baby Queen’’ Carnival organised in June and July last has enabled us to pay off a substantial bank overdraft, to purchase a new and improved motor-car for the use of the Plunket Nurse, and to place the sum of £75 on deposit with the Post Office Savings Bank. Thus a year which was commenced on a note of anxiety on the part of the Committee closes with the gratifying knowledge that we have not appealed to the public for help in vain, and that the services of the Plunket Nurse are really appreciated by those who are direct beneficiaries thereof.

Nurse Hooper’s annual report, which follows, will he found to he a most interesting and informative one: NURSE’S REPORT 1932-33 1931-32 Number of new baby cases 194 149 Number of Home Visits paid .. 7G2 1047 Number of visits paid to Plunket Rooms — Adults 3080 2GSI Babies under two .. .. 2GIB 2097 Children over two .. .. G 74 731 Total G 372 5509 Expectant mothers advised re diet, hygiene, etc. 2G. Letters received and answered 100. it will be seen from a glance at these figures that the year has been one of sustained progress in the Stratford district, and a closer analysis reveals interesting points. Firstly, there has been a decided rise in the number of new baby cases. If the new cases for Eltham are included the average works out at over twenty new babies a month; this is high for a country district. This year’s increase is partly, but not wholly, accounted for by the fact that 21 more births were registered in this district this year than last. It is interesting to note that nearly three-quarters of the babies born in the district have come under our supervision at one time or another during the year. This is higher than the average figure for the Dominion as a whole, and it speaks well for the value which country mothers place upon the service when one considers that a large proportion of the mothers whose babies are born in Stratford live in outlying districts, sometimes far in the country. in this connection, we should like all country mothers to realise that they are very welcome to write, and that we are always ready and pleased to give advice by letter; we feel that this is perhaps a way in which our help might be extended in the future.

Of the 194 new cases 173 were wholly or partially breast-fed, and the great majority were under six weeks old when first seen. An increasing number -of mothers bring their babies in at about three weeks old, or in some way communicate with the Plunket Nurse directly after leaving the Nursing Home. This is very satisfactory. Our object, first

and foremost, is to prevent early weaning and consequent digestive troubles, with failure to thrive, and the earlier we come in contact with the mothers the better.

About ninety per cent, of the new babies could be classed as normal when first seen, and it is safe to say that very few of these have failed to make satisfactory progress during the year. A few were brought in suffering from malnutrition or some digestive upset, and most of these did well with simple dietetic treatment. In the case of any abnormality, or any baby failing to respond to nursing and dietetic treatment, the mother is always advised to consult her doctor. Our work is pre-eminently preventive and educational in its aims and methods, and we specially wish to stress the latter aspect. An intelligent mother who has had one baby under constant supervision should become sufficiently self-reliant and wellinformed to herself help other mothers if need should arise, and should not need to depend on the Nurse at every turn. It will bo noticed that the Home Visits paid this year were considerably less than last year. This is of course due to the fact that for live months of the year the car was not in use. During this time the home visits fell to an average of 18 per month, rising again to between BO and 100 a month as soon as the car came into use again. During the time the car was off the road there was a slight rise in the number of visits to the Plunket Rooms; but this rise was not proportionate to the fall in the home visits. The country visiting is very much appreciated by the mothers, especially at Toko, where they had not previously had this benefit. The visits paid to the Rooms keep at a remarkably even level, with an average attendance of about 220 mothers and babies and 45 to 50 older children per month. Visitors other than mothers with children bring the total visits of adults, babies and children up to fully 500 a month in Stratford. The attendance of children over two has fallen off a little this year; we hope this tendency will not continue. Our ideal is to keep in touch with the children at intervals up to five years old if possible, and although time and circumstances limit the possibilities in this direction, we should like to see more children on or about their birthdays and once or twice a year between. It is seldom sufficiently realised that good and regular habits and proper food are just as necessary for the toddler as for the baby, and that the good results of careful management in infancy may be undone later by unwise general management and poor feeding. Periodical checking up of the weight and height and development, and a talk between mother and nurse as to diet and habits may do much to prevent this falling off in the older child. Needless to say, a very large number of telephone calls are received, and although these do not show in the tabulated report, they represent quite a considerable item in the nurse’s routine work.

Several babies from this locality have been admitted to the Wanganui Karitane Hospital during the course of the year, with beneficial results. A course of mothercraft classes has been given at St. Mary’s School, the girls taking a keen interest in the subject. Later in the year Girl Guides are to receive a similar course of instruction. This is a branch of the educational aspect of the work which one feels to be well worth pursuing.

The keenness and interested cooperation of many of the mothers make one’s work a pleasure, and one feels it is a privilege to assist in any way some of those who are working so hard and often so anxiously in these difficult times.

In concluding our report, we would like to congratulate one of our most valued members, Mrs. R. Masters, on her election as a member of the Central Council; and to offer our sincere thanks to Drs. W. P. and Doris Gordon, who very kindly lent their residence for a bridge party; to Mrs R, Masters, at whose residence a garden party was held; to all those who, in however humble a capacity, assisted during the course of the “Baby Queen” Carnival; to Mrs G. Hall, at whose home the Committee gathered to farewell Nurse Hooper and to welcome Nurse Mason; and to all others who have in any way assisted the work of the Society throughout the year.

ELTHAM SU6-BRANCH

Annual Report Your Committee have pleasure in presenting the Seventeenth Annual Report and Balance S'heet for the year ending 31st March, 1933. Monthly meetings of the Committee have been held on the second Tues- ; day of each month, with the exception of January, when many of the members were away. The Subscribing Members have considerably decreased during the past year owing to the financial distress felt by everyone, so that many of our former regular subscribers are now unable to help us. The Secretary has endeavoured very hard to try to get in sufficient subscriptions to meet the expenses of the General Fund, but to date has been unable to do so. Efforts to raise funds during the year have been really hard work, the trouble being that in a small place, ! with any deserving Society or Institution, the support is always given by the same people. A musical afternoon held early in the year, a shop day in August, and three competitions in December were the efforts held to raise funds; but the sum aimed at on each occasion was far from being realised. The Committee were very grateful for the help given by the Frontiersmen during the year by putting on a dance and donating half the proceeds to the Society; also to the Borough Council for a donation. During August the Society lost the services of Nurse Paynter, who had done splendid work during her stay here. A very pleasant afternoon and presentation was given her, before her departure, by the members and Committee. Nurse Hooper was appointed in her place, and she also has done remarkably good work, having had some very sick babies to attend to since she came, and they have all made

wonderful progress, which speaks highly of her capabilities. It is with regret we learn that she is to leave us in the very near future.

During March, at the lovely grounds of Mrs. Carman (President), kindly lent by her for the occasion, the Committee entertained all mothers and babies attending the rooms. Golf putting, golf and ball croquet competitions were held and enjoyed by all who took part. The day was a perfect one, and all present thoroughly enjoyed themselves. it is with regret the Committee lost the services of Mrs. Carman (President) at the end of the financial year, owing to ill-health. Mrs. Carman has given three years of really hard work, and very valuable and unstinted services to the Society, and we take this opportunity of placing on record our sincere and grateful appreciation of her efforts, and wishing her renewed health in the future.

Her place is being filled by Mrs. J. Campbell, a very energetic member of our Committee, whom we feel sure will give the best of services. In conclusion, we wou'd like to thank all those who have given us willing help throughout the year. Spe-i:,. acknowledgment is due to Me5...... Syme and Weir for legal services, the proprietors of the Central and Coronation Hotels for providing the Nurse with lunch free of charge, and to Mr. Packard, who never fails to place the aims of the Society before the public. The Plunket Nurse’s report for the year ended 31st March, 1933, reads as follows: —• Number of new baby cases .. 56 Number of Home visits paid .. 385 Number of visits paid to Plun-

! ket Rooms — ! By Adults .. 1235 i Babies 100 G I Children .. .. 336 j Total 2627 | A satisfactory feature of the year’s ( work is the large proportion of nor- | mal breast-fed babies seen. Only 7 oat of 56 were bottle fed, and these were mostly over 6 months old when fix'st seen, j An increasing number of mothers j get in touch with the Plunket Nurse j during the first few weeks after the } birth of the baby, which is the ideal j thing. Our aim is to keep the well babies well by preventing early weaning and digestive troubles and j by showing the mothers the best me- | thods and management generally. To achieve the best results along- these educational and preventive lines early contact is of course all important. In this connection we wish to express our appreciation of the courtesy and co-operation of the Materi nity Nursing Homes in allowing the j Plunket Nurse the privilege of visitI ing the mothers before they go home, j The informal friendly contact thus | achieved is very helpfuh The few I cases of malnutrition or indigestion I which have come under our care could almost certainly have been prevented if the babies concerned had been under supervision from the first. There is still a fairly general impression that we are only concerned with the baby in the first year, and it is not sufficiently realised that detailed care and supervision of the young baby is given with a view to building for the future. Growth and development in the child are continuous processes, and good feeding and management are necesary throughout. We should like to see more of the “ex-babies” from time to time —say, on or about birthdays and once or twice a year between.