Plunket Society’s Record of Service

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 717, 17 July 1929, Page 7

Plunket Society’s Record of Service

NEED FOR FUNDS P ( TWENTY-FIRST BIRTHDAY “in 1908 the Auckland Plunket Society had one Plunket nurse who in the first year visited or was visited by 250 mothers seeking advice about their infants. “In 1929 thirteen nurses were work- j iug at high pressure with a record of 92,52 S visits paid to headquarters and c city and suburban offices. This does c not include 15,556 visits paid to y homes by the nurses, nor those of mothers attending the pre-natal clinic h which number 2,563.” . This record of service by the Auck- s land branch of ihe Plunket Society was revealed in the address given by ’’ the president, Mrs. W. H. Parkes, at „ the twenty-first annual meeting held n at the Lyceum Club last evening. S In the absence of the Mayor, Mr. G. [[ Baildon, Miss E. Melville presided and n congratulated the branch on attain- v ing its majority. A bouquet was preseated to Mrs. Parkes by Lady Sin-clair-Lockhart, in appreciation of her E services on behalf of the society. PROBLEM OF FUTURE li “While reviewing the past with satisfaction and thankfulness, the future provides a problem of grave concern, inasmuch as the demands made upon the society are infinitely beyond what j we cau cope with,” Mrs. Parkes said, j “As an instance of our difficulty, it may be mentioned that in one suburban district the Plunket nurse is called upon to deal with an average of 100 visits and consultations daily. Sir Truby King has expressed the [opinion that 45 cases is the outside limit any nurse should attempt. To relieve such strain, which applies also to several other districts, Sister Goulstone, in charge of headquarters, has to leave her duties and assist here and there as emergency nurse.” The president also said that in Wellington there was one nurse to every 9,000 of population, but in Auckland the proportion was only one to everv 16,000. In October last year the branch took over from the Plealth Department, at its request, the entire charge of the pre-natal clinic established at headquarters. When the society took over the clinic one nurse attended half a day a week; now two nurses were in attendance every day, thus decreasing the number of nurses available for district work. It was small wonder that their nurses broke down under the strain, she said. “The position has become acute,” said Mrs. Parkes, “and is a cause of keen anxiety to the committee inasmuch as it is helpless without a big-, ger income.” Referring to the publication of the annual report this year in book form the president said that comment had been made that the report, which was a special “coming of age” production, was too costly. Plowever, the report, although more attractive, was no more costly than usual owing to the generosity of the publisher and two anonymous donors who had contributed the cover and special woodcuts. DEMAND FOR NURSES The cost of the society’s service to 1 the community was about £3,900 a year. The annual Government subsidy was £1,700, and the society had to find £2,200 by voluntary subscriptions. Considering the fact that Auckland’s population was rapidly nearing 200,000, it was not too much t to expect that this amount should be contributed annually. The society could not relax its efforts. It had to supply nurses to meet the urgent demand. Although the financial year had ended with a credit balance the society would be working on a bank overdraft at the end of this month until such time as financial assistance was forthcoming. “Having now attained my majority as a Plunket servant I am emboldened to make a special appeal for the wherewithal to meet this crisis in our history,” said Mrs. Parkes. “I am confident that the public of Auckland, realising the dire necessity for funds, will show its appreciation of what has been accomplished by a noble and generous response.” Dr. E. B. Gunson, honorary physician to the Karitane Hospital, congratulated the branch attaining its majority. ! Referring to the great work done by Sir Truby King, the society’s founder, he said that in the early days of the society Sir Truby King fought a great battle, not only against public prejudice. but also criticism from the ranks of his own profession. Now he had succeeded surely beyond his wildest hopes, the movement having spread not only throughout New Zealand, but all over the world. He was proud that one of New Zealand’s greatest men should come from his profession. Dr. Gunson said it was interesting to note that more was spent on patients at the Auckland Hospital in one week than upon the whole of the Plunket Society in one year. He appealed for greater support of the society’s work and said a special effort should bo made this year to give the assistance so urgently needed. Seconding the adoption of the re- [ port and balance sheet. Mr. R. A. Laidlaw drew attention to the fact that subscriptions did not figure as largely as they might. He did not wish to make odious comparisons, but thought the Plunket Society was not as well supported as other bodies/ Miss L. Beatrice Goulstone. on behalf of the nursing staff, and Miss V. Mac Lean. matron of the Karitane Baby Hospital, also addressed the meeting on infant welfare. Reference to the work of Mrs. Parkes was made by Sir George Fowlds, and a vote of thanks for her efforts on behalf of the society was j passed. Retiring office-bearers were all reelected. the following being added to the committee:—Mesdames E. C. H. Dawson, A. St. Clair Brown. R. Towle. Schruhsell and Evans. The financial position was subsequently discussed at a meeting of the advisory committee, which accepted a proposal by which the society will receive the assistance of a collector by whom a systematic canvass for subscriptions will be made.