Hundreds give help

Press, 20 November 1987, Page 1

Hundreds give help

By

CHRISTOPHER MOORE

They came from South Brighton, Avonslde, Sydenham and the inner-city suburbs, travelling by bus, taxi and private car to hospitals throughout Christchurch.

The small army of volunteer helpers arrived at the hospital gates to spend the day preparing meals, transporting patients from one ward to another, sweeping floors and cleaning toilets and baths.

The volunteers were aged between 11 and 70. Some were former hospital patients repaying the people who had treated them. Others were former hospital staff members. High school students, retired people, housewives, the unemployed, all responded to the call from hospl-. tals for help to maintain essential services.

A member of the team of co-

ordinators organising the hospital’s volunteer rosters, Mr Russell Arnold, described the response by 150 volunteers as “amazing and wonderful.” A local industry allowed six of its employees to assist and the Wai Taha Trust Access scheme provided 11 volunteers aged between 16 and 40.

“We were starting to get worried last night when it seemed that we might not haveenough volunteers. But the response this morning was amazing. People were returning after their shift was over to volunteer to work extra hours,” Mr Russell said.

By noon yesterday, volunteers were being turned away or advised to approach other hospitals.

The manager of Christchurch Hospital, Mr Lindsay Lambert, admitted that he had been “aggreeably surprised” by the public

response. The hospital received about 200 offers of help. While some could work for only a few hours, others volunteered for shifts throughout the 48-hour strike. In the kitchens, between 19 and 20 volunteer helpers became involved in the preparation and delivery of meals to patients. "Public hospitals have not faced this situation before, but the public’s'response has encouraged and pleased us,” Mr Lambert said.

The Canterbury Hospital Board’s chief executive, Mr Ron Parker, echoed the feelings of hospital administrators. The board, according to Mr Parker, was “thrilled by the public’s kindness and willingness to help.” The number of volunteers who registered yesterday meant that hospitals in the area could maintain essential services today.