APPEAL FOR HELP

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 151, 23 December 1935, Page 15

APPEAL FOR HELP

CONVALESCENT HOME

Although some forty-one years .have elapsed since the establishment of the Wellington Convalescent Home, it is perhaps not generally known there is in,; Wellington an institution that, in a 1 quiet and unobtrusive mariner,:is playing. a most important part in the lives of many women Suffering from broken health.

Situated on the slopes of Mount Victoria, commanding a 'panoramic, view of the harbour and surrounding country,, the Wellington Convalescent Home for Women nestles amidst pleasant surroundings; a more ideal spot for the rapid regaining of health could hardly be imagined.

The home was established in 1893, money being subscribed and collected byi means of entertainments, etc., the object being to provide a place where women patients whose circumstances would not allow them to pay could, after discharge from the 'Public Hospital, go for a .short convalescing period entirely free of charge. Apart from a small grant from the Hospital! Board and a few small, amounts de-1 rived from accrued interest on invest-1 inents, the home is almost entirely maintained' by private subscription, a number of enthusiastic lady supporters contributing a sum of one guinea yearly towafds its upkeep. A certain number oiLcity doetorb^also-eontribute a likeimßunt. - 'These -subseriptidhs 1 en-, title a subscriber to nominate one' patient per year for two weeks' convalescing treatment free of charge to the patient. A certain number of I patients whose circumstances enable them to pay a small, sum are also admitted on the recommendation of a subscriber, but preference is always g|ven to those who are unable to do so. During the year ended March 31 last 177 patients passed through the home. Of these 147 were admitted free of charge, and of the remainder more than half paid part only of the fees.

: The home has accommodation for l<jn patients only, and is practically always full, the majority being discharged patients from the Public Hospi tal, sent in by members of the medical staff.

That the institution is a boon and a blessing to those women who are enabled to enjoy, free of charge or worry, a period of two delightful weeks convalescing under the most ideal conditions, can be seen by, anyone taking the trouble to pay an afternoon's visit to the^home.

Miss Phillips, assisted by a small staff of assistant?, is matron-in-charge, and everything posible is done to instil brightness into „ the stay of her patients. -, \ Like all institutions depending almost entirely upon public subscriptions for |their maintenance, the Wellington Convalescent Home is suffering from lack of means, and the trustees, perhaps, have had a more difficult task to balance their budget than the Minister of Finance. The home is the only one of its kind in Wellington. Those responsible for its continuance are voluntarily performing a splendid, service which is badly, needed. A few more yearly subscribers would be of great assistance —their annual subscription 'of one guinea would be devoted to a good cause. Seasonable hampers or other little luxuries will also be welcomed by the matron. Telephone number is 51-524.