Plunket services benefit the whole community

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 4, Issue 19, 7 October 1986, Page 10

Plunket services benefit the whole community

Carol Harford is the Waimarino's Plunket nurse, and plays an important role in the lives of many mothers and their babies. The Plunket nurse is regarded by the majority of new mothers as supportive, caring, helpful and necessary. Carol works three days a week on extended hours visiting as many homes as is possible in that short time, as well as making visits to

Waimarino Hospital and running the Plunket clinics in both Ohakune and Raetihi. Carol spends some time making social visits to mothers who are confined to the home because of new babies and who often do not get many visitors. A typical month involves 400 to 500 kilometres clocked up in the Plunket nurse 's car, 38 home visits to babies, first visits to around 10 babies, and clinics in the

afternoons. Last month, 62 babies and their mothers visited the clinics. However Carol says that she isn't as rushed as city Plunket nurses. "Those poor things are rushed off their feet - it's shocking," she said. Carol is also available for advice on feeding and mothercraft, and offers suggestions to new mothers as to how parenting may be made more pleasureable. She is also involved in immunising babies. She is in the forefront of preventing accident and illness in the younger generation of the community.