DISTRICT NURSING SCHEME

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 70, 9 August 1912, Page 6

DISTRICT NURSING SCHEME

HOW IT FARES AT URUTI. ' SUBSCRIBERS UP IX ARMS. According to the statements made at the, annual meeting of subscribers, the district nursing scheme at Uruti is languishing for want of financial support, and bccan.se some of the rules are unworkable. The meeting was held at Uruti last Saturday, and was largely attended. Mr. A. H. Halcombe, a member of the Taranaki Hospital and Charitable Aid, Board, was present by invitation to discuss the new rules just received. After a long discussion, it was decided that the rules were unworkable, especially in the backhlocks, and it was decided to work on the same lines as hitherto. A long debate took place regarding those persons who were not in a. position to pa» either the subscription or the fees, and Mr. Halcombe was asked to see whether in such cases the rates paid to the Board could not be remitted back to the nursing fund to provide for the same. Air. Halcombe promised to do what he could.

The balance-sheet, which was read and adopted, showed the receipts, including nurse's earnings £33 la Bd, subscriptions £34 10s, and a balance of £53 4s 9d from last year, totalled £ll3 Ss lid. The expenditure amounted to £74 7s lid, leaving a credit balance of £3!) Is. Two canvassers were appointed to endeavor to get extra subscriptions, and the following committee was set up: Mesdames Larsen and Guscott and Messrs Old, Wdlls and 0. Jupp. Mrs. Kelly, who has acted as secretary for the last three years, has handed in her resignation. Mrs. Kelly has performed splendid work, and it is through her self-sacrifice and devotion to her work that the scheme has so far been a success.

SUBSCRIBERS AND AUTHORITIES AT LOGGERHEADS.

A Uruti correspondent supplies us with a statement of the position. The sum of £OB is claimed hy the Hospital Board every year, and this carries with it the Government subsidy of 24s in the £, making the nurse's salary of £l5O. It was hoped in the beginning that the subscriptions would cover the £6B, but the raising of such a sum is clearly impossible, so that the nurse's earnings, instead of being used as a sinking fund for a cottage hospital, as originally promised, have to -be used partly towards making up the £6B. The first year the subscriptions were £SO, the second £3B, and last year £34, while the average earnings of the nurse were £4O a year. The subscribers hold that a portion of their rates paid to the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board should come backto them to help finance the scheme;] seeing that such a lot of the work is,' "charitable" work, or nearly so. They claim that if they worked strictly according to the rules the scheme would be absolutely unworkable. They cite | the case of the last rule, which debars settlers—even though they may be sub- [ scribers, and in dire need—from the I benefits of the scheme. The rule roads: | "Nor should a district nurse attend those ' I houses—except for occasional visits—, j where the head of the household is in a position to pay the usual weekly fees' I charged by private nurses." The subI scribers also urge that no nurse should | be allowed to go away on a holiday withi out leave, with the liability of a bad ca.se being brought in while she was away.. I The late secretary (Mrs. Kelly) has several times communicated with the auth-' orities on the subject, particularly with regard to the new rules. In a letter to the Chief Health Officer (Dr. Valintine) she pointed out that the settler, : whom the scheme was supposed to benefit, was not considered the least in the . rules. He was, in fact, in the background, while every consideration for the nurse was put forward. "Had I seen." she wrote, "the rules, I would not have taken the interest in the sriieme I have done, but I intend to take no further interest until it is put on a different footing." Hence her resignation. "You do not," continued Mrs. Kelly, "instil into your nurses the right spirit for undertaking such work. When a nurse undertakes her work with the idea that 'she is sacrificing her whole career' m leaving the town, is it any wondw thai the scheme is losing favor?"

OFFICIAL ULTIMATUM.

*n replying to Mrs. Kelly's complaints,' Dr. Valintine wrote, inter alia, as lows:—"It is very difficult to instil 'tf self-sacrificing spirit into people, but, neverthelass, there are plenty of nurses who are doing wonderful work in our bnckbloeks, and who are thoroughly imbuedwith what might almost be te'rmwl a 'missionary' spirit. As regards your suggestion that a levy should be mrie by the Hospital Board on the settlers of a distriet, I do not think that would meet the ease. The levy would naturally Mire a sompuisory aspect, and a certain number of the settlors won'-? very much resent it. I can only suggest that we go on as at present', relying on local effort and Government subsidy, and if the people do not realise the advantages »f the district nursing scheme after so long a trial, well, then we must abandon it."

Tlkm-c (he matter rests, and the attitude that the Hospital Board will adopt, when t\w subject is Drought under its notice by Mr. Halcombe, is awaited with interest.