KARITANE HOSPITAL

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25328, 30 October 1947, Page 2

KARITANE HOSPITAL

EXTENSIONS PLANNED The Karitane Hospital at Cashmere, which was opened in 1919 with a matron, one nurse, and one student nurse, has steadily grown in the scope of its activities, and the demands made upon the accommodation provided there have become so many and so insistent that extensions to the buildings and additions to the staff are urgently needed. During the first year that the hospital was open 47 babies and one mother were admitted. Twenty years later, additions were made to the hospital; but as the admissions this year nave risen to 289 babies and 170 mothers, it is now considered necessary to provide a 40-bed hospital for babies with accommodation for 12 mothers.

To raise the necessary money a Karitane Hospital building extensions campaign is to be launched, and this was officially opened last night by the Mayor (Mr E. H. Andrews), when he attended a manneqifin parade held at Hay’s in aid of the fund. “The hospital is doing splendid work in sue-, couring premature and delicate babies,” said Mr Andrews. “We aim at achieving a higher birth-rate and establishing a lower death-rate amongst babies. The Karitane hospitals help to lower the death-rate, and I earnestly commend the appeal, and ask for* your liberal support.” Mr A. E. Kincaid (a member of the Karitane Hospital extension building fund) later announced that the cost of the proposed additions would probably exceed £30.000.

The mannequin parade was well attended and very enjoyable. The mannequins, nurses and student nurses from Karitane Hospital and members of Hay’s staff, with a number of small children, displayed a great variety of smart dresses, coats, hats, and handbags. They included play-suits and beach frocks, afternoon dresses, and simple as well as formal evening gowns, with several pretty party frocks for small girls. Many of the afternoon frocks featured double skirts, fish-tail draperies, embroideries in silk, beads, and sequins; some of the summer suits in plain and patterned material had pencil slim skirts and full coats and evening gowns of floral silk, plaid and striped taffeta, plain silk georgettes and broderie anglaisc showed cap sleeves, frills and spangles and bustle bows, which the compere. Mrs G. H. Goldsborough, explained were now called chous. Mrs B. H. Gilmour, president of the Christchurch branch of the Plunkei Society presided at the gathering, and thanked Mr Hay. who was present with Mrs Hay, for his generosity in arranging the parade. ' She also’ expressed gratitude to members of the staff of Hay’s. Ltd., and to all who had helped to ensure the outstanding success of the function, especially mentioning Mr Robert Allison arid Miss Valerie Pepnler, who sang solos, and Mrs M. McNair, who was pianist and accompanist.