SOUTH WESTLAND'S NURSE.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 February 1922, Page 4

SOUTH WESTLAND'S NURSE.

(To tlie Editor). Sir.—Having just returned from Okuru and just having read tlie Press report of the last Hospital Board meeting I find that the following portion of my monthly report has not been published as requested'. To the Chairman; Westland Hospital Board.

“According to the press report of last month’s- Board meeting Mr Chinn has greatly misrepresented facts in stating that the nurse was living at this end of the district. By ‘“this end,” I presume that lie meant the northern end. If Mr Chinn had’ taken the trouble to look tip the charge sheets before making this erroneous statement .he would 1 have been much, enlightened as to my, district work. During the past year I have only visited Wataroa or Tetaho twice except when I have received calls to attend patients. When I have cases at Wataroa, it would be most absurd to travel back to Potter’s Creek and work the cases from there, and would add considerably to the work which my horse Already lias to do. “When I was appointed to this position I was given to understand that my district extended from Tetaho to Okuru. If this was a mistake and lam not. bound to attend cases north of Waiho, I shall be glad if the Board will acquaint me of the fact immediately, as it will certainly make my district a much easier one. At present, the major portion of my work occurs on Wataroa.

“Also according to press reports Mr Ritchie “regretted the nurse could not ■live in the cottage oftener than she did.” There is only one remedy for this, viz., to either neglect my patients or get a caravan and a team of horses so that like a snail my residence may travel with me. “Here also I would like to sav, particularly for Mr Ritchie’s benefit that when going through the Wa.iho district from north or south or vice versa, perhaps after a. tiring and wet ride I find the damp, lonely and unprovisioned cottage particularly uninviting and naturally prefer to put up at the hotel, where one receives a cheery welcome, a. hot meal and dry bedding. “Further I wander if Mr Ritchie is aware that when T do reside at the cottage, J have to go to the Waiho Hotel for my baths. According to a nurse’s idea of bodily cleanliness this would entail a journey of eight miles at least daily. “Respite a natural disinclination to resort to the press, I feel that I cannot allow such erroneous statements to pasß without comment, and will esteem it a favour if you will give full publicity to the above corrections.

Re my relations with the Board. Mr Chinn is reported having said: “He was very sorry that here was any disagreement between the nurse and the hoard. “Sir, if you could see the eulogistic letters which I have had from the Board throughout, truly would you marvel at this assertion. It would seem

that Mr Chinn imagines that Mr Ritchie and himself arc* the Board. Thanking you for your valued space 1 am, Sir, etc., MABEL W. GUNN, Potter’s Creek, 4th. Feb. 1922.