HOSPITAL DAY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 177, 10 May 1935, Page 6

HOSPITAL DAY

VISITORS TO INSTITUTION.. ASHBURTON RESIDENTS INTERESTED. EFFICIENCY OF MODERN SERVICE To stimulate public interest in the working of the Ashburton Public Hospital and the service it is giving to the community, the institution was thrown open for inspection this afternoon and .many residents took the opportunity of being shown over the various departments. The occasion was Hospital Day, a day set apart in New for the purpose of making known to the general public the extent of the work of caring for the sick and needy in every community and the facilities provided for the performing of this service. All those who visited the Ashburton Hospital to-day were very impressed by its efficiency and by the capable manner in which it is conducted. It was evident that the hospital was run on modern lines and that every endeavour was being made to keep it up-to-date. Visitors were welcomed by the chairman of the Board' (Mr W. G. Gallagher), who thanked the ratepayers for returning the sitting membeis of the board at the elections on Wednesday. The Board spared no pains to make the hospital one of which the community should he proud and made every endeavour to keep all facilities up-to-date. As an instance of this, he stated that the X-ray plant which had been in use for 11 years was being replaced by a new one, which would be available for the whole County, lhe old plant had cost £ll3O. The attendance was a representative one and the County Clerk (Mr G. Kelly) represented! the Ashburton County Council. The staff, under the Medical Superintendent (Mr A. J. Mason;, t e Matron (Miss E. J- Watt), and the secretary of the Board (Mr A. Prentice conducted visitors over the hospital and explained the working of all departments.' One hundred and fifteen years ag next Sunday Florence Nightingale, “the Lady with a Lamp,” and one ot the greatest of Englishwomen was horn, and this week-end nearly 60 different countries will honour her memory by the observance of Red Cross or Hospital Day. By taking a noble hand of women to nursing service in the Crimean War, she established' nursing as one of the most exalted of professions, and the inspection of the Ashburton Hospital to-day was a part of the observance of this important anniversary. . ... A commemoration service will •»e held in St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church on Sunday evening and will be attended by doctors, nurses and others engaged in the care of the sick, ih© Rev. R. S- Watson will he the preacher.