PLUNKET SOCIETY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 248, 19 October 1937, Page 2

PLUNKET SOCIETY

OCTOBER MEETING This month’s, meeting of the Plunket Society and the hospital was held in the Plunket Rooms on Tuesday when a good attendance of members was recorded, those present being: Mrs. H. D. Robertson (chair), Mesdames Bates, Ross, Brinkman, Jenkins, Deacon, Currie, Keesing, Hoist, McLean, Wickham, Hill, Knight, Hine, McGregor, Nixon, O’Neill, Robinson, Millward, Russell, Boyes, Graham, Dwyer, G. H. Robertson, Widdowson, Miss Stanford and Mr. O’Meara. Apologies for absence were received from Mesdames Ziesler and A. E. Halligan. Prior to commencing the meeting the president extended a welcome to Mrs. J. A. Nixon, a new member of the committee.

The New Zealand Plunket Society has suffered - severe loss in the sudden death of Miss Pattrick, late Nursing Adviser to the Plunket Society. The president, in speaking of the noble work of Miss Pattrick, said that it was well known what a tower of strength Miss Pattrick had been to the founder—Sir ITuby King—and with what devotion she had filled the position of nursing adviser for so many years, and moved that this committee desire to place on record her outstanding work and extend their sincere condolence to the members of her family. Mrs. Wickham, in seconding the motion, said that only the older generation of the Plunket Society knmv the amount of work M : ss Pattrick cad done not only in New Zealand, but m other parts ot the world, and her jassing would be deeply felt by all. This was carried in silence, members standing.

The first report dealt with was that of the Plunket nurses, whose figures showed that they had had their usual busy month. 740 old cases remain on the books, and there were 48 new cases of expectant mothers and 54 new cases, mothers and babies, were registered. Visitors to the various offices were 645 adults, 552 babies, 110 children, making a otal of 1307. The Plunket nurses had paid 342 visits to various homes, of this total 56 were new cases and 286 old. In the prenatal section 7 new cases were registered and 64 return visits had been paid. For some time past the senior Plunket nurse had been visiting the 19-mile camp, Parapara Road, this is to discontinue as one mother and baby have left the district altogether and two other families have been transferred to the 32-mile camp. The mothers remaining at the 19-mile camp will attend at the Wanganui rooms.

The matron of the hospital reported as follows for the month: "Babies admitted 21, babies discharged 12, mothers admitted 10, mothers discharged 6. 20 babies and 4 mothers were still in hospital at the end of the month. Cases were admitted from the following districts: Wanganui, Ashhurst, Parihauhau, Bulls, Patea, Westmere, Opunake, Palmerston North, Dannevirke, Kai Iwi, Aramoho, Waitotara, Taihape. Nurses J. Hobson and Robinson completed their training and Nurses Taylor and Crommelin commenced training.”

The hospital and Plunket Society has been very fortunate to have so many interested in the welfare of the society and who have shown their practical appreciation by sending liberal donations. We thank the following most sincerely, viz., Hawera Plunket Society £5 ss, Maypole Stores Ltd., part proceeds of their Charity Ball, £6, Ohakune Plunket Society £3 3s, and Palmerston North Plunket Society for their very liberal donation of £5O. This latter amount will be ear-marked for cases coming from Palmerston North who are not in a position to pay the hospital fee. The secretary reported that the amount collected from the street day appeal was £lBl 13s. Under the circumstances this was considered a very satisfactory result. The following were appointed the house committee for the ensuing three months: Mesdames Keesing, J. A. Nixon, McGregor, McLean, and Brinkman.

The president of the Wanganui East sub-committee notified the committee that an effort had been made to form this district into a sub-branch but unfortunately the meeting lapsed for want of a quorum but that a further effort would be made in the near future to call another meeting to discuss the question. Seven new members have been enrolled during August and September. On Thursday, August 12, a house-to-house collection was arranged by the committee for the Wanganui East area—the amount collected was £l2 7s. It was decided to hold a bring-and-buy afternoon at Mrs. James McGregor’s residence, No. 5 Willis Street, on Thursday, October 28. Next meeting will be held on Thursday, December 2.