1930 - Annual Convention Report

              S I X T E E N T H A N N U A L C O N V E N T I ON 81
H E A L T H PROBLEMS AND PROPOSED REMEDIES
Synopsis of Address given by Honorable George Hoadley, Minister of Health.
The necessity for health units was explained by the Minister of Health,
when he reviewed the excessive expense of sickness at the present time,
when the payment of trained nurses, hospital bills and doctors' fees are taken
into account. The march of events is compelling a solution for this economic
problem, he claimed, and the system of health units seems the most feasible
solution. If the plans of the Department are put into effect, two health
units will be established in this Province within a short time, Mr. Hoadley
stated, one at Red Deer and the other at High River.
Speaking of the' problem of finding work for the many graduate nurses,
he suggested that the whole thing would work itself out very smoothly if
nurses would get married about two years after they graduate, for then not
only would they leave room for the newer nurses but they would be able to
give invaluable health service to their communities. Unfortunately, M r . Hoad­ley
admitted, this was an impossible solution.
As it exists at present, the situation is extremely unsatisfactory, M r.
Hoadley declared. To meet their expenses hospitals must of necessity use as
few registered nurses as possible and as many pupil nurses as can be absorbed
i n order to meet the financial burden of a hospital. This results in the gradu­ation
of many more nurses than can well be absorbed into the profession each
year. Because the nurse is far from sure of steady employment, she must,
on her side, charge high rates. Doctors have a right to a fair living as well
as have other people, and their fees must of necessity be high. These three
factors react heavily, however, against the patient, and not many can stand
the financial strain of illness. The one solution seems to be that each com­munity
must tax itself sufficiently to be able to hire doctors, nurses and have
equipment to keep it well. Hence here the health unit scheme comes in.
The work of the travelling clinic was outlined, the speaker announcing
that its efficiency will be increased with the appointment of a trained occulist
to examine all eye conditions.
Sex education should be in the hands of the mothers, Mr. Hoadley
claimed, rather than in that of teachers. To assist mothers in imparting sex
knowledge to their children it is hoped to have certain members give instruc­tion
to mothers next winter at the time when the clinic is unable to proceed
on its regular course through the country.
It is the aim of the Department to prepare more and more small health
pamphlets to be distributed throughout the country. The book for mothers
just issued which had been prepared largely through the efforts of Dr. Owen,
was spoken of.
Offers of assistance were made from the Government to the Women's
Institutes in sending an exhibit to be a part of that of the Federated Insti­tutes
of Canada at the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto this fall.
A glowing tribute to the outstanding part the Women's Institutes play in
the health work of the province was paid the organization by the Minister
of Health. Its very freedom from politics and from any bonds of creed or
race give it the free swing and scope that other bodies do not have, he
claimed.