DISTRICT NURSE ASSOCIATION

Taranaki Daily News, 1 August 1930, Page 12

DISTRICT NURSE ASSOCIATION

t .-ASSISTANCE TO THE NEEDY. A very busy year has again been experienced and the district nurse’s time has been fully occupied, spates the annuli report of the New- Plymouth >• District Nurse Association to be -presented to the meeting this evening. During the past-12'months -Sister Gill 1 has paid the. following- visits;- Visits to homes, treatments and advice, 1501; • visits to homes and inquiries, 992; visits ' to charitable aid recipients, 238; visits to ex-patients in hospital, 30; telephone calls, 1248; visits averaged 230 a ' month. Help’ was found in 12 instances;. 1 Clothing was supplied to 122 families (1,959 articles). In addition, Sister Gill has daily taken invalid delicacies supplied by members of the committee and others interested in the work of the district nurse to necessitous cases. Donations' of food, vegetables and clothing have again been liberal and the committee thanks all those who have shown such practical sympathy and materially helped the district nurse in her relief work. Tho usual children's party was held in Pukckura Park on December 21, when wo helped to entertain over 256 poor children at afternoon tea and each child received gifts from the Christmas tree. 'Christmas cheer parcels were delivered to over 60 poor families. ■ This was made possible by the work of the Commercial Travellers’ Association and other friends. Three functions were arranged during the year to raise funds —a cake stall on-, November 8, a white elephant mart on I April 4 ftnd a flag bridge afternoon on May 7. All were financially successful. Donations from the Hunter Shaw Es-. tate and the New Plymouth Savings Bank are acknowledged. One sympathiser when forwarding a donation wrote: ‘T should have thought that the work done by your association for the sick poor would have been more appreciated by those who are in a position to afford you financial help." We have had many sad cases of distress brought to our notice during the year, and although it is sad to know' there are so many needing assistance it is a matter for congratulation that we have a district nurse who can so thoroughly understand and help and that so many generous donations of food, clothing, .etc., are forthcoming. - Nurse H. Atkinson has again satisfactorily acted as relieving district nurse during Sister Gill’s absence on holiday. The sewing committee has made several bedspreads and thanks are due to tho ladies who have had sewing bees at their homes. One lady 1 at E'gmont Village has been a great help in this direction and one of her helpers walked six miles to help. We would welcome more members on the J sewing committee, preferably those who could take work to do in their own homes, as the room the’ commit- 1 tee has for sewing is very cramped.