42

REPORT ON THE

CALCUTTA HOSPITAL NURSES' INSTITUTION.

      As I find it has been usual to incorporate the annual report of the above
institution with those of the hospitals of Calcutta, I have not departed from the
practice on the present occasion, and therefore quote the report verbatim—

      " The Committee, in publishing the report of the 18th year of the Hospital
Nurses' Institution, are glad to say that the medical officers in charge of the
General and of the Medical College Hospital speak most favourably of the
manner in which the nurses employed by the institution have done their work.

      "During the past year, the Committee have added five nurses to their staff
at the General Hospital, and two to the staff at the Medical College Hospital,
where the accommodation is limited. As soon as the new quarters are built,
the Committee hope that they may be able, through the liberality of the public,
still further to increase the number of nurses, as well as to maintain the present
staff. The Committee are anxious to bring to public notice the amalgamation
of the Hospital Nurses' Institution with the Lady Canning Home. This insti-
tution which was intended for a memorial of the late Lady Canning was first
planned in 1861, immediately after her death, and it was hoped that the funds
then collected would provide a home and training for a staff of nurses available
for out-nursing. Unfortunately the money subscribed was not sufficient to
establish the home, though at one time a temporary home was started under
the management of the Calcutta Hospital Nurses' Institution, and answered so
well as to prove that it met a real want. After a time the Trustees of the
Canning Fund declined to continue the small payment they made towards the
Nurses' Home, and it had in consequence to be closed.

      "After a further lapse of years, two lady-nurses were brought out from
England to occupy the house built by the Canning Fund; but the cost of
supporting the ladies left no balance for providing out-nurses, nor was the build-
ing large enough to accommodate any. The ladies, therefore, have hitherto
only had the hospital nurses to train, and the general public have as yet
derived no advantage from the Canning Home. During the last year, when
there were three ladies at the Canning Home, the expenditure of the institution
was in excess of its income, though the salaries paid to the ladies with difficulty
met their actual expenses. There are now only two ladies at the Home, and it
is hoped that, with the Government monthly grant-in-aid of Rs. 200, the
income of the institution will cover its expenditure.

      "From this statement it will be seen that there is no hope of starting the
out-nurses from the Canning Fund, but as this cost would be only a temporary
outlay, which would cease when the out-nurses were trained, and in full work,
it is hoped that money may be raised for the purpose.

      "With a view to securing a working Committee which should arrange
matters of detail and help in the collection of funds, His Honor the Lieutenant-
Governor, the Bishop of Calcutta, and the other Trustees of the Canning Fund
proposed during the past year that the Hospital Nurses' Institution, till then
quite distinct from the Canning Home, should be amalgamated with it, and
the two institutions managed by one Committee subject to the approval of the
Trustees of the Canning Fund.

      "This arrangement was effected, and will no doubt conduce to the advan-
tage of both institutions, for though the Hospital Nurses' Institution derives no
sort of pecuniary benefit from the Canning Fund, its nurses at the General
Hospital are trained by the Canning Home ladies; and, on the other hand, any
funds which can be spared from the Hospital Nurses' Institution, the Com-
mittee have promised to contribute towards the establishment of a staff of out-
nurses, which will complete the Canning memorial.

      "It is hoped that, considering the great advantage it would be to all classes
of the community to be able to obtain the services of properly trained
nurses, many subscribers towards the Hospital Nurses' Institution may be
induced to make special donations in aid of the Canning Nurses, the Committee
are the more encouraged to ask for such help, because it certainly would not
be an ever-recurring demand. It has been proved that though, while the out-
nurses are being trained their services will be entirely unremunerative, and