PATETONGA NURSE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4662, 15 February 1924, Page 2

PATETONGA NURSE.

SETTLERS’ REQUEST FOR SUBSIDY At the monthly meeting of the Thames Hospital Board held on Mbnday last a letter was received from the Patetonga Medical Association asking that the Board endeavour to obtain a subsidy on the voluntary contributions made by the settlers of the district towards the cost of providing accommodation for the district nurse* The association was about to canvass the district for further funds, and asked ■ the sympathetic co-operation of the Board to get a subsidy. The Minister for Health forwarded a circular showing the conditions under which subsidies were given on funds collected for district nurses. The chairman said that the arrangement was that the board pay the nurse’s salary and the settlers subscribe .sufficient to pay for her accomjnodation. The secretary reported that the fees collected averaged about £2 a month. Mr Brenan said it appeared to him that tne Board was providing rather too much for Patetonga, The nurse was costing the board about £l5O a year. The accounts for ner services averaged £lO a month, of which about £2 a month was paid. Now the Patetonga people were asking the board to find by way of subsidy half of £75 a year, which was roughly the cost of the nurse’s accommodation. It was questionable if there jv'as sufficient for the nurse to do at Patetonga. The chairman said that be was expecting that other parts of the board’s district would send in a request for a district nurse. Should the Patetonga settlers contribution be dropped at any time he would'have no hesitation in withdrawing their district nurse.

Mr Brenan thought it would be better for the Patetonga people to make an annual unconditional contribution to the board. It could then obtain a .subsidy and pay for the nurse’s accommodation. Settlers must realise that the nurse was colsting the' board £l5O a year, and that no matter whaz they paid as a contribution they should still pay for her services. He moved that if the Board received an annual unconditional contribution of £5O the Board would take over the liability for the payment of the nurse's accffinmodation. This was seconded by the chairman and carried.