Mr. Pollock said that most of those present would remember that the scheme for the erection of a special building for three nurses came before them at the last general meeting, and it was postponed on his suggestion in order to ascertain the views of the Government with regard to the housing of the nurses at Victoria Hospital. The Government were unable to do that, and, therefore, he begged to move that the scheme which was before them at the last meeting be now definitely rejected.
The motion was approved, and the building project thus came to an end.
Probably owing to this, the Institute was doomed to be merged in an official body.
At a meeting of the Institution on January 23, 1906, the committee, in presenting the fifth annual report to subscribers, stated that it was proposed the name should be changed from "The Hongkong Nursing Institution" to "The Hongkong branch of the Colonial Nursing Association." The Institution was originally founded on entirely independent lines; it now, however, obtained its nurses through the Colonial Nursing Association, and a definite connection with the Association would be an advantage.
The committee also desired to draw the attention of the community to the great desirability of everyone adding his or her small mite of $10 and becoming a member of the local branch. It had been found that many patients not members of the Association employed its nurses and benefited thereby, sometimes to the exclusion of members. The committee had in consideration the advisability of largely increasing the fees for non-subscribing patients.
These references incidentally show how the body worked; subscribers had first call on the services of the nurses, at fixed fees.
The end of the non-official association came a year later. At a meeting of the Hongkong Branch of the Colonial Nursing Association on January 31, 1907, Dr. Stedman (the President) stated that he had to address the meeting on an important matter. They had held a special meeting the previous November to consider the question of the Government taking over the management of the nurses, housing them and in fact running the scheme entirely.
That was, as a nursing institution they would in such event cease to exist. It was first proposed that Government should house the nurses in the Victoria Hospital, Barker Road, but later it was proposed to build quarters for them adjoining the Government Civil Hospital.
Mr. Pollock proposed the acceptance of the Government's offer. The idea of transferring the control was very fully considered by the committee, he said, and they came to the conclusion that such a change was desirable. In this Colony people were constantly leaving, and the Institution had had a long succession of Hon. Secretaries; it was desirable to ensure permanent arrangements to hand over the nurses to the Government.
The transfer duly followed, and the control of the nursing sisters passed into the realms of officialdom. That meant complete absorption of the old Institution, after a short life of six years.
3.
Mr. Pollock said that most of those present would remember that the scheme for the erection of a special building for three nurses came before them at the last general meeting, and it was postponed on his suggestion in order to ascertain the views of the Government with regard to the housing of the nurses at Victoria Hospital. The Government were unable to do that, and, therefore, he begged to move that the scheme which was before them at the last meeting be now definitely rejected.
The motion was approved, and the building project thus came to an end.
Probably owing to this, the Institute was doomed to be merged in an official body.
At a meeting of the Institution on January 23, 1906, the committee, in presenting the fifth annual report to subscribers, stated that it was proposed the name should be changed from "The Hongkong Nursing Institution" to "The Hongkong branch of the Colonial Nursing Association." The Institution was originally founded on entirely independent lines; it now, however, obtained its nurses through the Colonial Nursing Association, and a de- finite connection with the Assci ation would be an advantage.
The committee also desired to draw the attention of the community to the great desirability of everyone adding his or her small mite of $10 and becoming a member of the local branch. It had been found that many patients not members of the Association employed its nurses and benefitted thereby, sometimes to the exclusion of members. The committee had in consideration the advisability of largely increasing the fees for non-subscribing patients.
These references incidental ly; show how the body worked subscribers had first call on the services of the nurses, at fixed fees.
The end of the non-official assciation came a year later. At a meeting of the Hongkong Branch of the Colonial Nursing, Association on January 31, 1907, Dr. Stedman (the President) stated that he had to address the meeting on an important matter. They had held a special meeting the previous November to consider the question of the Government taking over the management of the nurses, housing them and in fact running the scheme entirely.
That was,
as a nursing institution they would in such eventcease to exist. It was first proposed that Government should house the nurses in the Victoria Hospital, Barker Road, but later it was proposed to build quarters for them adjoining the Government Civil Hospital.
Mr. Pollock proposed the acceptance of the Government s offer. The idea of transferring the control was very fully considered by the committee, he said, and they came to the con- clusion that such a change was desirable. In this Colony people were constantly leaving, and the Institution had had a long succession of Hon. Secretaries; it was desirable to ensure permanent arrangements to hand over the nurses to the Government.
The transfer duly followed, and the control of the nursing sis- ters passed into the realms of officialdom. That me ant complete absorption of the old Insitution, after a short life of six years.
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