AT THE HOSPITALS

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 129, 27 November 1940, Page 12

AT THE HOSPITALS

WOMEN'S WORK FOR LONELY PATIENTS

AUXILIARY'S ANNUAL REPORT

Generous donations from Art Union funds, and a grant of £25 from the T. G. Macarthy Trust, have greatly benefited the work of the Wellington Hospital Ladies' Auxiliary, which met yesterday for the last time this year. The auxiliary's hitherto frugal finances have been so augmented that the library has been established on a firm footing and patients now have a new collection of 1200 books worth approximately £200 from which to choose. The auxiliary provides magazines and light literature for the Victoria Hospital, children's books for small patients at the Macarthy Convalescent Home, Belmont, and reading matter for the temporary hospital in the old Newtown School. Seventeen women operate the library, which is organised by Mrs. J. F. O'Leary.

The auxiliary's main function, it was stated in the annual report, was the visiting of lonely patients, particularly those who had no friends and relatives in Wellington. "The work is undertaken by the representatives of the various societies forming the auxiliary," the report continued, "and they work to a plan and carry out the visiting in rotation—at the main hospital on Sundays, Mondays, and Thursdays, and at Victoria daily. The hospital at Central Park I is also visited regularly.

"Owing to the war, the work undertaken for the Red Cross Society (Mrs. Webb, convener) has grown enormously. Visits are made weekly—an average of 263 visits a month being made to returned soldiers and 177 to present war soldiers from the nearby camps. In addition to these, returned soldiers in the Island Bay convalescent home receive regular visits. Smokes and sweets provided by the Red Cross Society are distributed, and these are augmented by gifts of sweets and matches donated by members of the auxiliary carrying out this work," stated the report.

Miss C. E. Kirk, retiring president, mentioned the great difficulty the auxiliary had experienced in providing its annual gift of bed jackets as a Christmas present to the children's hospital. At a greatly increased cost sufficient material had been obtained to make the gift and those who had helped in completing the jackets were thanked. A bolt of flannel was purchased from which 67 shirts and petticoats were made and given to the almoners' department. Knitted singlets and large and small quilts were also given the almoner.

Mrs. E. M. Barker, hon. treasurer, reported the finances to be satisfactory.

Tribute was paid Miss Kirk by members of the auxiliary, Miss B. Clark, matron of the hospital, and Dr. Thorne, medical supervisor. Mrs. Dowsett, a member of the board, complimented the women on their valuable work.

Officers elected for 1941 are as follows:—President, Mrs. J. F. O'Leary; vice-presidents, Mrs. J. C. Webb, Mrs. Barltrop, Mrs. Piaggi, and Miss Kirk; hon. secretary, Mrs. H. D. Watson; hon. treasurer, Mrs. E. M. Barker; hon. librarian, Mrs. O'Leary; and assistant librarian (at Victoria), Mrs. Cullen.