Two ad ditional
nurses to be given
to the General
Hospital.
Nursing at the Ge-
neral Hospital:
testimony of the
Surgeon -Super-
intendent.
91
CALCUTTA HOSPITAL NURSES' INSTITUTION.
CALCUTTA HOSPITAL NURSES' INSTITUTION.
REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31ST, 1872.
Committee.
MRS. COCKERELL.
MISS MILLMAN.
MRS. CURTOYS.
MRS. MONRO.
MRS. DAMPIER.
MRS. PIGOTT.
MRS. FAGAN.
MRS. ROWE.
MRS. UPTON.
MRS. COLQUHOUN GRANT, Honorary Secretary.
MRS. JACKSON, Honorary Treasurer.
THE Committee of the above institution, in placing before the public
the report of the thirteenth year of its existence, have to deplore a falling off
in the donations and monthly subscriptions. But, although the funds are so
low, the Committee have determined on giving two additional nurses to the
General Hospital, as the work cannot be done efficiently without them. One is
to be placed in the female ward, the other in the building lately occupied by
the sick from Fort William.
The Committee have much satisfaction in being able to show from the
following testimony of Dr. Ewart and of Dr. D. B. Smith, the efficiency and
worth of the nurses belonging to this institution.
The Surgeon-Superintendent of the General Hospital, Dr. Ewart, in a
letter to the Honorary Secretary of the Committee, says:—"I have much plea-
sure in again bearing testimony to the very creditable manner in which the nurses
attached to the Presidency General Hospital performed their arduous and
highly responsible duties during the past twelve months. It is difficult to
estimate the important services rendered to the sick by these women. So
much am I impressed with the value of their services, that I should most
gladly welcome an increase to the number of nurses at present allotted to the
hospital. During the past year, the whole of the buildings formerly occupied
by the Native and European sick in Fort William have been available for the
general purposes of the hospital. Whilst this has given more space, it has
entailed a marked increment to the average number of daily sick. To meet the
necessities of this increase of the patients in hospital, we ought, to begin with,
to be furnished with at least two more nurses in addition to the present staff of
ten nurses and one matron."
The Officiating Principal of the Medical College Hospital, Dr. David B.
Smith, writes thus:—"I express but the simple truth when I say that, as a body,
the nurses are respectable, quiet, and willing attendants on the sick, who wish to do
their duty faithfully; and who quietly and conscientiously endeavour by day and
night to be of service to those who are helpless and in pain, and who, without
their good offices, must of necessity be comparatively unhappy and neglected.
On the whole, since I have been here, I have been much pleased with the spirit
evinced by the nurses in the hospital, and there can be no doubt that it would
be almost a public calamity were want of funds to necessitate their removal.
We much require more of them, if possible. It is the duty of the public to
contribute towards the maintenance and success of such an admirable establish-
ment as the Calcutta Hospital Nurses' Institution; and if I can in any way
assist the Secretary and members in bringing to general notice the failing funds
of the institution (or otherwise be useful in such a cause), you may fully rely on
my doing so."
Nursing at the
Medical College
Hospital: the
Principal's testi-
mony.