THE PLUNKET SOCIETY.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 302, 21 December 1931, Page 9

THE PLUNKET SOCIETY.

Satisfactory Progress Made Last Month. CHRISTCHURCH BRANCH. The monthly committee meeting of the Royal New Zealand Society for the Health of Women and Children (the Plunket Society) was attended by Mrs J. Cracroft Wilson (in the chair) and Mesdames If. Wales, A. F. Wright, W. H. Gowper, 11. J. Ballin, P. Thomson, C. Chilton, M. 11. Godby, A. R. Bloxam, O. Rennie, R. M. Morten, M. Lohrey, A. F. Roberts, G. M. Lester, E. Harris, 11. R. Smith, A. Bunz, Cecil Wood-and Misses Houghton and Dunsford. The president referred to the many years of service the late Mrs George Rhodes had given to the branch, and a motion of sympathy with her relatives was passed. It was reported that baby garments for Ivaritane Hospital had been received from the Sydenham-Cashmere, Riccarton, Kaiapoi Papanui and Marshlands sub-branches, Mesdames C. C. Davis and A. Bunz, and the pupils of the Girls’ High School. Gratitude was expressed for the great help it was to the hospital to have these little garments made each } r ear, and it was decided letters of thanks be sent to the branches. The committee’s campaign to secure as annual members those mothers whose babies were under the care of the nurses, and whose circumstances were sufficiently comfortable to allow them to pay an annual subscription towards carrying on the work of the branch, was progressing satisfactorily, and a good response was being made by the parents. Treasurer’s Report.

The honorary treasurer reported generous donations from sub-branches towards the Karitane Hospital that had been received, and the sum of £5 from the Opawa-St Martins sub-branch towards the funds of the central office, all of which were received with grateful appreciation. For the central office Nurse Allan reported as follows;—At the pre-natal clinic twenty-eight new cases were

seen, 157 return visits were paid, one visit was paid to a home, and 105 cases were under observation. During the month ninety new cases were seen in the post-natal section, and 572 visits were paid to homes by the Plunket nurses.

In the pre-school section 134 visits were paid to the rooms. A total of twenty-one new cases were enrolled and 890 cases were under supervision. At New Brighton-Sumner-Redcliffs districts, Nurse Sims-saw at New Brighton 165 adults, 157 babies and 15 older children. At Sumner 72 adults, G 7 babies and 3 older children were seen, and at Redcliffs 30 adults, 29

babies and 4 older children were seen. Fifteen new cases were seen and 101 visits paid by the nurse to homes in these districts.

For the Karitane Baby Hospital, the matron reported that ten babies were admitted, thirteen discharged and ten were still in hospital. Five mothers were admitted to the Mothers’ Cottage during the month, four were discharged and lour were in residence. Nurses Morland, Wearing and Mason had completed training, and Nurses Munro, Ballantyne and Findlay had commenced training.