MOTOR CAR NEEDED.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5124, 11 May 1927, Page 2

MOTOR CAR NEEDED.

USE OF DISTRICT NURSE.

REPLY TO THAMES BOARD.

For a considerable time- past Mr PE. Brenan has been using his best endeavours to secure a motor-car for the. use of the district nurse to natives (Miss J. M. Jarrett). At Monday’s meeting of. the Thames Hospital Board the matter was again brought before the members by the receipt of a letter from the. Medical (Officer qf Health who wrote as follows: —

“The position is that this department does not provide motor-cars for the nurses, it being the function of the hospital boards to provide suitable means of transport. In some districts the Europeans and Maoris have held concerts and raised subscriptions for the purpose of purchasing a car for the nurse’s use. This has been- carried out and a car purchased at Opotiki and Whakatane, the cost of running and upkeep of the. cars being borne by the hospital boards. I would therefore suggest that similar steps be taken in your district if your board is not prepared to actually purchase the car. In the places named the boards had previous!) provided horses or horse and trap, so if your board has not done anything in this direction, then I suggest that it might finance the whole, transaction without appealing to the public. “Ther.e is no possibility of such provision being made by the. department, in view of the fact that hospital boards are statutorily responsible for the medical and nursing needs of its district, irrespective of race, and the department, in paying the salary of the nurse is already doing more than it is supposed to do. Hospital boards will, in future be required to make all appointments of nurses, and will be reimbursed from the nurse’s salary and £lOO a year to assist in the expenses of travelling, rent, etc. The appointments would, naturally, be subject to the approval of the department. Would your board consider taking over Nurse Jarrett.”

To Mr C. W. Parfitt the secretary (Mr G. Tonge) said that the services of the, nurse were at present costing the board about £9B a year, but she was also doing work in three hospital board districts. He thought the- matter could be well left alone. The greater part of the nurse’s time was spent in the Thames Board’s district, but he foresaw financial difficulties if called upon to provide a car.

Mr E. L. Walton moved that the Health Department be, asked if, in view of the fact that the nurse’s services covered several districts, the boards concerned had been consulted in the matter.

The resolution was seconded by the chairman and carried. “The time has come when the district nurse should be supplied with a better inode of travelling than a bicycle,’’ said Mr Brenan. He wished to know definitely what the board proposed to do, and said that the matter had been shelved too long already.

The chairman pointed out that the -matter was largely Paeroa’s liability. “Not necessarily,” replied Mr Brenan. He pointed out that the board 'had the old motor ambulance, lying idle, and he thought steps should be taken to try and deal it for a two-seater car.

Mr W. J. Hall contended that the board should do something. Miss Jarrett was doing splendid work, and should be helped and encouraged. Mr A. R. Robinsoon agreed, and suggested that the chairman and Mr Brenan should go into the matter thoroughly and bring down a report for the next meeting. The chairman pointed out that it would be necessary to consult adjacent boards and ascertain if any assistance would be. forthcoming.

Mr J. W. Danby, while agreeing that something should be- done, thought that other boards should assist.

That it was desirable to know what proportion of time Miss Jarrett spent in other boards’ districts was the contention of Mr J. Lange. Mr Brenan said he. thought that the nurse put in about 75 per cent, of her time in the Thames Board’s district, and the balance in the Waikato. Coromandel, and Waihi hospital districts. The Thames Board should purchase the car, the running expenses of which would amount to about £lOO a year. He suggested that the Waikato Board should be asked to contribute £2O a year towards the expenses. Waihi £7, and Coromandel £lO a year. On the motion of Mr Robinson it was decided to refer the matter to the chairman and Mr Brenan for a report at the June meeting of the board.