LEWISHAM HOSPITAL.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17296, 7 November 1921, Page 2

LEWISHAM HOSPITAL.

PROPOSED EXTENSION SCHEME. In the grounds of Lewis-ham Private Hospital, yesterday . afternoon,, a .wellattended meeting, over which Mr Walter Clifford presided, was held to discuss ways and means of raising fends ■for the extension of the hospital, so as to provide accommodation for the sick poor of all denominations. The'chairman who apologised for the unavpidable absence of. his brother, Sir George .CM-' ford, introduced the first speaker, Dr. John Guthrie, who interestingly traced the- growth of private hospitals in this country/where, he mentioned, the fees for skilled private nursing were lower than in almost any other part of the world. Ho dwelt on the U'.aeSts of concentration, and specialisation in hospital work, and explained that the wish of the Lewisham nursing sisters was to open a well and modemly equipped hospital, which they would staff and maintain, and in which poorer people of every denomination, who could not afford the fees for private nursing, would receive the excellent and devoted care of the sisters. The hospital would be on lines similar to those of a public hospital, and tho sisters would continue their private hospital, from which : would be largely derived the wherewithal for the upkeep of the new hospital. Eacii one, he maintained, was more or le3s his brother's keeper, and it was fair that those who could afford to do so should in this way assist, in tue care of the I necessitous sick. Mr Joseph Hamlet, in a fcrcefol speech expressed his hearty approbation of the scheme, and, is a practical proof of his sympathy, he promised to give £SO towards the fund and to assist m even - way to further the pood work. Dr. O'Brien stressed the point that the sisters, part of whose life work it> was to assist those in need, were offering to undertake the strenuous task of maintaining a hospital practically at their own expeniie, as the chief «ouice of revenue for the proposed new hospital would bo from the tannics vf the private hospital. At the invitation of Mr Clifford, many ladies and gentlemen then volunteered to act on a committee to an for a bazaar or other entertainment lor deriving funds for the erect;'>n of the new hospital. After the Sisters had dispensed afternoon tea, the members ot. the committee, of •which Mrs Farra was appointed secretary and the Rev Mother iieasurer, met and discussed plans for tho future. A few of those present wer« Mr Walter Clifford, Dr. Guthrie, Dr. and Mis Ardagh, Dr. and the Mor\{.r.Oi T)r O'Brien, Mr and Mrs Joseph Hamlet Mr and Mrs P. Selig, Mrs Hcrry (Murray, Mr H. St. Aubyn Murray, Mr George Hayward, Miss Nellie Haywnrd, Mr 3 Farra, Mrs J. S. Barret, Mr D J. Shea, Mrs fcialfroy, Mrs and Miss Nottingham, Mr Moss Ballia, Mr T. Cahill, Mr Amodeo, Mrs J. Smythc. Mr and Mrs J. E. Henrys (Wellington) Mrs B. B. Grange, Mrs Bunz, Miss Harrington, Mr and Mrs Bevendge, Miss Mina Ward, Mr and Mrs Prendergast, Mrs Lee, Mr Fogarty, Mr Delaney, Miss Ford, MiBS Queenan, Mrs Hoiland, Mrs and Miss Irwin and Miss Hatch. ________