BRIGHTER SIDE

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 54, 1 September 1945, Page 10

BRIGHTER SIDE

HOSPITAL PATIENTS

ENTERTAINMENT SERVICE

To the care and attention given patients in hospitals in the Wellington district there are supplementary services which do much towards heartening the inmates. They include the provision of entertainment, and, though comparatively little known, this voluntary work has been developed widely during the past few years. All institutions controlled by the Wellington Hospital Board are covered, and those for whom the entertainment is provided range from the "youngest to the oldest in the institutions. This side of hospital life, like others, has the full blessing of the board, which is keenly appreciative of the assistance given by those organisations and people who arrange and provide the entertainment for the patients. It is on well organised lines that the service is given, an entertainment committee having been set up to carry out the details and act in conjunction "with members of a staff and muse committee. Careful attention is given to the type of entertainment to be provided, and in the drawing up of schedules every endeavour is made to meet the requirements of the particular cases, according to their age, condition, ,and location. The service, of course, also has the approyal of the medical staff, and its beneficial effects are acknowledged all round. FILM PROGRAMMES. The showing of motion pictures takes a prominent place in the wide variety} of programmes, and through these the I patients have not only been entertained but also kept apace with events in to them, for the time being, the outside world. The "talkies" and those who provide them are exceedingly popular with the patients, just as are the visits by concert parties. And with the children there are magicians to give them rare treats as there are the juvenile film favourites. Those whose duty it is to care for the children in the institutions find the performances a great aid to their constant endeavours to keep the kiddies interested and happy. That work with the children extends far beyond . accommodating them for the special entertainments provided by the outside helpers. The nurses themselves entertain the children, and as a further important part in the process of getting the young ones back to normal health and strength they carry out prescribed exercises with the children, exercises such as ball throwing, etc. VOLUNTARY SERVICE. Organisations, of which members give freely of their'time in the interests of the hospital patients, include the Wellington Amateur Cine Society (which has extended its hospital. service very considerably since its revival of activity temporarily checked by the earlier calls to war service), the Magicians' Society, the Repertory Society, the 2YA Concert Party, and the Army Education and Welfare Service. The service is-all given voluntarily, but its maintenance and development means a certain amount of finance, and at the present time an appeal is being made for contributions to a cause which is doing grand work. "There are many separate institutions to be served, all calling for considerable travelling expenses as well as other costs which cannot be met by other than voluntary contributions," the entertainment committee- points out. "All funds are carefully controlled and spent where the. greatest good will be done. It is felt that out of gratitude and with free will you nught like to help." '-~,.. While doing their part m the interests of the patients, the members of the hospital staff and their friends also have special functions, from which the proceeds go to the patients' entertainment fund. Popular among these is the annual ball, for which elaborate plans are made. This year's ball, taking place in the Town Hall next Friday night, promises to be one of the biggest events of the Kind yet held.