Gisborne Hospital

Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, Volume XI, Issue 4, 1 October 1918, Page 217

Gisborne Hospital

Miss Tait, matron of the Gisborne Hospital, resigned that position m August. Miss Tait came from Melbourne nearly three years ago to take up the position m succession to Miss Godfray. There has, unfortunately, been much unrest at this hospital, and during the last three years many enquiries, culminating m January of this year m a Royal Commission, m which the enquiry, m our opinion, failed to recognise the cause of the constant trouble. The hospital is a fine one of over 100 beds, built only about five years, and should be one of the best training schools for nurses. At the time of the matron's resignation the Hospital Board requested the InspectorGeneral of Hospitals, to send as soon as

possible an acting-matron, and Miss Bick nell, of the Department, was lent for a month until a permanent matron could be appointed. The Department was also asked to find some sisters to take the places of four who resigned with the matron. Sister Heeba Grant, of the N.Z.A.N.S., was temporarily released from military service and accompanied Miss Bicknell to Gisborne, and has been acting as home sister and assisting the matron. Nurses Ross, and Stronach, of Auckland Hospital, and Sister Brown, of Oamaru Hospital, were appointed ward sisters and Nurse Wells, of Auckland Hospital, accepted the position of massage sister. Nurse Tarleton, trained at Gisborne Hospital, remained on the staff as staff nurse and acting sister. Miss Frances Price, R.R.C., who returned some months ago from active service, was appointed matron of Gisborne Hospital, and took up her duties on September 24th. Miss Price was trained at Wellington Hospital and was sister m charge of the Children's Hospital until she went on active service with the first contingent of 50 nurses from New Zealand, for which purpose she was given leave from her hospital. After nursing at the Pont de Koubeh Hospital at Cairo, Miss Price went with the unit to England, and after a short term at Brockenhurst, was appointed matron of No. 1 Stationary Hospital m France, where she was for eighteen months until her return to New Zealand.