NURSES' SERVICES.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 February 1919, Page 2

NURSES' SERVICES.

f SUGGESTED MEMORIAL-SOCIAL EALU. Itt-refcrring at yesterday's meeting of the Taranaki Hospital Board, to the receipt of a donation of five guineas, which the douor requested might be used in somo way to provide extra comforts for the nurses in the new home to be erected by the board, the chairman (Mr. M. Fraser) said the board was very grateful for such a contribution, and that something substantial should be done to mark the public appreciation of the services rendered by the nurses during the recent epidemic. He referred to what had been done by some other hospital boards in this connection, one of which had voted its nurses a bonus of £lO each. The finance committee had considered some such action in regard to the services of the local nurses, but the Audit Department had informed them that there wa.s no authority for making such payments to the nurses. He knew that in the district comment had been made on the fact that the uuard had done nothing in this direction, but he pointed out that the board's hands were tied. He then went on to say that in preparing plans for the new nurses' home the board had sought to include in the buiiding a suitable social room, 'but the present cost of building made that impracticable. They had, however, succeeded in providing a small social room in the new building, but all were agreed that it was quite inadequate for the needs of the staff. He further pointed out that the arrangements of the institution were such that there were always nurses asleep during practically the whole of the day, and in consequence quiet was absolutely essential, and it seemed that what was needed was a room detached from the main building. If sufficient money could be got to build such a room, ho thought it would be an excellent idea as a memorial to tho services performed during the epidemic. He thought probably £IOOO would be required. Mr. Halcombe, in supporting the chairman's suggestion, said that some money had been raised at Urenui with the object of establishing a war memorial. He thought the idea of a social room for the nurses not only a suitable form of acknowledgment of their services, but a necessary provision for their comfort. Ho expressed an opinion that as the nursing profession had rendered such noble services in connection with the war in alleviating the suffering of sick and wounded men, those who had contributed to the fund he referred to would willingly allow their donations to be placed to a fund for providing a suitable social hall for the nuwes at the local hospital. He was confident, also, that others would readily subscribe to such a memorial. Mr. Andrews said he heartily approved tho scheme, which' was a good one, and he thought an appeal should bt» made to the public, who, he felt sure, would liberally respond. The chairman pointed out that tho donation to which he had referred was not the only amount tlii'.t the board had received for the provision of extra comfort for the nurses.