SERVICE FOR THE SICK

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27921, 19 March 1956, Page 2

SERVICE FOR THE SICK

FRIENDS OF THE HOSPITAL

YEAR’S WORK REVIEWED j

“As a group we -are ever ready to extend our work in the hospitals wherever help is needed,” states the tenth annual report of the Friends of the Hospital, which will be presented at the annual meeting in the Pensioners’ rooms, Worcester street, this evening. “The work today needs tolerance and understanding, the giving out of kindness and sympathy, the building up of faith and trust among nations and among people, and if we in our work for the sick and elderly with whom we come in contact can build up the feeling that sQmeone cares or takes an interest in them, then in our small way we will be spreading goodwill and happiness,” says the report. The organisation has many branches of activity. The mending group, consisting of 14 women, meets every Tuesday evening to sew on buttons and tapes. The group has now completed 10 years of this service with Mrs V. J. Drake as convener and Mrs I. H. Christie as registrar. This year the group has handled 15.830 articles. Another group—Friends of the Hospital, Burwood—under the leadership of Mrs E. McLean has also completed 10 years of fine service. A group of six, mostly from New Brighton, who took a special course at St. Helens Hospital in 1946 formed the beginning of this band of helpers who have interested themselves in the elderly patients. The number of members has now increased to 40 women, who are willing to be called upon for extra duties. The number of duties worked this year amounted to more than 4000.

Mrs A. M. Moore and Miss Moore, who are the organisation’s visitors to the Burwood Hospital, visit patients there regularly and distribute magazines. Mr Moore has also taken a kindly interest and has provided transport and assisted both nurses and patients whenever possible. “Mr and Mrs Moore also do a wonderful service in a quiet and unassuming manner by meeting former patients from hospital and giving them outings or other treats,” states the report. The organisation’s “soap lady,” Mrs M. J. Gay, on her monthly visits to the sanatorium had distributed on an average about 98 cakes of soap each visit as well as knitting books and magazines. Nursery flay Centre With the exception of the third Wednesday in each month, when Mrs L. Buckley was in charge, Mrs A. M. Moore had been in attendance at the Nursery Play Centre at the hospital. The number of children supervised during visiting hours varied from a few up to 40. Mothers appreciated this service of caring for their children while they were visiting friends and relatives. On Sundays this work was undertaken by Girl Guides and members of the Junior Red Cross, and the organisation was grateful to the young people for giving up their time for this service, the report states. The knitting circle had knitted many comforts which had been distributed to patients in Christchurch and Burwood hospitals, Jubiiee Home and Tuarangi Home. More than 800 articles had been made during the year. Miss I. Hungerford, convener of this circle, expresses thanks in the report to all who have helped in this work—Central, Linwood and Richmond Townswomens Guilds, the West of England Society and the many knitters who had worked so consistently and willingly; also to Miss Arnold for typing and supplying instructions to knitters. A visit had been paid by representatives of the organisation to Tuarangi Home, Ashburton, last August, and it was decided to extend the organisation’s work and to provide extra comforts for the elderly men in the home. Helping Mental Patients

The work of members in endeavouring to give extra happiness to the mentally sick had increased this year. After hearing of the beneficial effect on patients on trips by bus, it was decided to concentrate on these outings instead of sending parcels to patients. Miss Arnold, convener, was thankful lor the ever increasing interest being taken by guilds, women’s institutes and other organisations in this worthwhile work fur the hospital, the report states. In addition to visiting pensioners in hospital a group of members had paid visits each fortnight to old people in their own homes. The Springston Women’s Institute had entertained a group of 36 pensioners taken on a bus trip to Springston in December. Mrs Timms and Mrs Rutland had visited many patients in hospital during 1955. The toy making group had made 200 attractive toys for the Christmas tree. The toys were distributed to children in various hospitals. The Pensioners’ Association had given the use of its lounge to the toy-making group.

Tile report expresses appreciation to Miss N. Gillespie and her group for providing entertainment at the Cnristmas social, and to all who had helped the organisation in any way.