BABIES' HOSPITAL

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16209, 11 May 1918, Page 9

BABIES' HOSPITAL

PROGRESS OF THE WORK

Those who sa liberally responded to the appeal made by the Christchurch branch of tho Plunket Society last Juno for funds wherewith to establish a; Babies' Jlospital in Christchurch are, veyy naturally, anxious to know how the work ia progressing. If the times had b'een normal it is safo to say thati long ere this tho scheme would have been consummated. But the times arc abnormal; labour is difficult tp get, and despite the energy displayed by tho Plunket Socicty, it will be probably two pr three months before the opening ceremony wili be performed. A representative of "The Press" yesterday ■ visited Albury Cottage, tho prettfly-situated, up-to-date bungalow of ton rooms purchased by the Plunket Society for tho purposes of the hospital, situated on Cashmere road, a short distance from the Barrington street stop of the Cashmero Hills tram. There is an area of about fonr acres and a half, and as the Society purchased tho property for £3500, it is apparent that an excellent bargain was made. Ascending the gentle Slope from the roadway, the visitor is impressed with the charming situation of the dwelling, the front of which faces almost due north, so that the 'spacious verandah gets the full benefit of the winter sun. One of the essentials insisted upon by I>r. Truby King -was that there should be aniplo light and air about the hospital, and to unsure this has iiyvolved a considerable amount of excavation at tho rear apd at the sides of the house. This work is in hand at present, and is almost completed. The soil has been deposited in the valley ip front of tho house, but has yet to be finished off 'n gently-failipg: terraces to the garden, which extends almost to the road frontage.

At the western end of tfae building, a space has been excavated for tho erection of the nurses' annexe, which will contain six rooms, and which will b6 connected with tho main building by a roofed way. At tho rear of the building are to be built an up-to-date laundry and dairy. In a comparatively short space of time tho work of the excavators will be done, and the area will be ready for the additional buildings*.

Very few structural alterations are contemplated in the building. Electric light is already installed, and it is proposed to add a number of points for heating and other purposes. Most of the rooms will be used as wards, and it is proposed to take not more than ten babjes at a tiipe, the idea being to set up in health the babies sent to the hospital as expeditiously as possible, in order that as large a number as possible can be dealt with. One <-•• the rooms is to be transformed into a nursery and bathroom, and the walls will u white enamel. This is, practically, the only room which will require any extensive alterations. In the case of °"e of the_passages, the walls will be treated m white, so as to brighten it up a little. The existing laundry is to be turned! into a room where humanised milk will be prepared. To meet possible criticism, it should bo stated that humanised milk will bo used only as a substitute when natural feeding cannot be secured. A somewhat hasty survey of the hospital gives the impression that the premises and the surroundings are adly, for tho purpose f° r which they nave been secured, and that the hospital, when in working ort}er,' will fulfil the object in view of those who so liberally subscribed the necesIS. 7 o • — t^lo wving of the babies. Xt Society k as secured tjjo services or mirse Smith, a maternity nurso who has recently taken the Plunket course, to conduct the hospital, and she will t a ** e charge as Goon as the hospital is ready to reserve its tiny inmates.