HOSPITAL BOARDS.

Thames Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 20287, 12 April 1938, Page 3

HOSPITAL BOARDS.

AND GRANTING RELIEF. SPECIAL EVIDENCE GIVEN. PA RLiAMEN TA R Y COMM ITTEE. [By Telegraph.—Press Association! WELLINGTON, April 12. The opinion that the transfer from Hospital Boards to some other author-

ity of the funcion of granting relief was not desirable, was expressed by the Director-General of Health, Dr. Watt, in giving evidence before the Parliamentary Committee on National Health and Superannuation. Dr. Watt said Mr. Nash, at tho committee’s hearing on April 8, asked the Health Department to go into the question of the desirability and practi•ability of transferring tho cliaritablo aid administration from Hospital Boards to some other authorities.

Referring to free home nursing and domestic help services, Dr. Watt said in the Department’s view an effective home nursing and domestic help service as proposed cannot adequately bo met with the evisting nursing personnel. It was thefeore felt that the most practicable course to pursue is to provide a special type of trained personnel. The Department of Health, in Association with the Nurses’ and Midwifes’ Registration Board and Registered Nurses’ Association, had been considering proposals for the establishment of a scheme for training “nursing aids,” whose services would be utilised in affording domiciliary nursing care and home help. A syllabus and course of training had been drafted providing for a two-year course of study.