355 Patients “Adopted” By Trust Board

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32251, 20 March 1970, Page 20

355 Patients “Adopted” By Trust Board

At present 355 hospital patients in Christchurch who had few or no friends and visitors, were "adopted” by the Christchurch Combined Churches Hospital Patients! Adoption Trust Board, the chairman (the Rev. 1. B. Wilson) said in his report to the board’s annual meeting in Christchurch. ’ These included patients from Sunnyside Hospital (160), Templeton (175), Burwood (six), Coronation (10), Jubilee Home (four). Those “adapting” patients were individuals, church groups, the Women’s Division of Federated Farmers, Country Women’s Institutes, the Red Cross Society, the League of Mothers, and Townswomen’s Guilds. Last year there had been 27 new “adoptions” at Sunnyside Hospital and six at Templeton Hospital. It was estimated, however, that the board needed new sponsors for 60 patients at Templeton and 40 at Sunnyside. “There is also a need for groups or individuals to visit short-term patients in hospitals,” said Mr Wilson. Such patients sometimes come from a distance and have no-one of their own to visit them. At present at Sunnyside Hospital there are such patients from the North Island, Africa, Canada, Britain and Europe.” Some groups continued to befriend their patients after they had been discharged from hospital, Mr Wilson said. Persons needed help then even more than when they were in hospital, and this aspect of the board’s work could be developed if more sponsors were available. The board had sponsored a I volunteer scheme at Templeton Hospital and at present 18 persons helped to care for children. Seven new volunteers had offered their services recently, but more were needed.

Mr Wilson said that the board had appealed for $2OOO for books for the patients’ library at Sunnyside Hospital. So far $1542 had been raised, and several had given good used books. It was hoped to keep the appeal open so that a fund would be available to keep stocks up to date. The board’s 14 members represented the Anglican, Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian and Roman Catholic Churches, said Mr Wilson. Although the adoption scheme originally envisaged parcels for Christmas and birthdays, parcels were now sent regularly—an average of eight a year. Also letters were exchanged, patients ' visited and taken for outings and sometimes for holidays.! “As the scheme has de-

veloped there has been a ( marked increase in the visit-! ing of patients,” he said, i “Regular visits are made by I suburban sponsors as far away as New Brighton, Hals-; well and Harewood, and coun-l try visitors come from as far as Akaroa, Rangitata and Cheviot.” Officers elected were:— Chairman, the Rev. I. B. Wilson; vice-chairman, Mrs W. J. Bowers; secretary, Mrs L. J. Oxley: treasurer, Mr J. A. McAlister. «