HOSPITAL AUXILIARY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 264, 6 October 1936, Page 12

HOSPITAL AUXILIARY

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Palmerston North Hospital Women’s Auxiliary was held in the City Council Chambers yesterday afternoon, Mrs M. Aitchison presiding. Also present were Mesdames J. A. Nash, W. H. Richardson, F. G. Murphy, W. M. Huntington, J. Stone, A. Grigor, R. A. Bettle (secretary), A. E. Hansford, T. R. Moore, A, M. Wilson, W. Mouldey, H. Sinclair and Miss Clark. Apologies for absence were received from Mesdames E. Bennett, L. A. Abraham, H. Coles, R. L. C. Aitchison, Misses J. McGhie, M. McLagan and V. A. Kelly. Mesdames Nash and Stone were welcomed back after their recent indisposition. The correspondence included a. letter from Mr A. J. Phillippe, who wrote on behalf of the Hospital Board expressing approval of the proposed garden party to be held in the New Year, and granting permission for the function to be held in the Hospital grounds. Various members of the board wrote offering to help in soliciting co - operation on behalf of their various districts. A meeting is to be arranged a.t Glen Oroua, the delegates to be Mesdames Mansion!, Aitchison and Bettle. The badge day to be held early in November was discussed, and members wero urged to enlist tho assistance of as many helpers as possible. It was unanimously decided to change the date of meetings to the fourth Wednesday of every month, instead of the first Monday. The first annual meeting was then held Mrs Aitchison being in the cluair. Tho ’report read by the president, and later adopted, was as follows: The auxiliary wa.s formed for the purpose of increasing the scope of tho social service work which had been carried on for a number of years by tho District Nursing Guild, which had been disbanded when the Hospital Board reorganised its district nursing service. Tho aims of tho auxiliary are to assist the district nurses in carrying out their work, especially in the cases of indigent patients when discharged from hospital and who are still in need of assistance in their homes with necessary comforts. Patients while in hospital* are assisted by visiting, writing letters, supplying flowers and magazines, and making purchases for them where necessary. Co-operation with the District Nursing Service throughout the hospital area is effected in any manner jxissible. The auxiliary feels that tho efforts for the first year have been worth while and looks'.forward with confidence to being able to assist very materially in furthering this all important work. Iho wireless for tho hospital patients. acquired reconditioning and we assisted by donating £3O. The hospital library is controlled by Toe H and as additional hooks were required a sub-conimit-tee was set up to co-opera.te with 100 FI • an appeal was made for suitable books, the response being very gratifying. The auxiliary supplies two daily papers and two weekly papers to the women’s wards. Great credit is duo to the sewing circle which meets tortnightly and lias made infants outfits, etc. for necessitous cases when application lius been made for same. .Special thanks are due to the Congregational Church Ladies’ Guild which donated' a quantity of very fine cot quilts and children’s garments which have been included in the parcels when distributed. Comforts for the patients in tho Maternity Home in the form of bed jackets and warm slippers were donated and greatly appreciated. Arrangements were mado whereby patients who were in the convalescent stage could have an outing by car and several ladies have generousiy placed their cars at our service when called upon. \Ve made donations to tho Christmas cheer fund at the Hospital and to the district nurses to provide cheer to. patients. After referring to the question of finance the report appealed to citizens for a continuance of their interest in tho work in helping to brighten tho stay of the patients in hospital, and to

assist them during the stage of convalescence, “whereby we may feel that something has been accomplished for those less fortunate than ourselves.” The financial statement was presented by the treasurer (Mrs Huntington) and was adopted. A balance of £3O 14s 8d was shown oil the working. Mrs Moore congratulated the auxiliary on its financial status, her remarks being endorsed by Mrs Mansford. Mrs Grigor eulogised the work of Mrs Aitchison and the committee, Mrs Murphy adding her remarks. The secretary, treasurer, and president were deserving of every praise, said Mrs Mansford. Mrs Aitchison said that everything had to have a beginning and that she felt what had already been accomplished had been worth while. . Special appreciation of the work of the sewing circle and the book committee was voiced by Mrs Mansford. Officers for the coming year were elected as follow: —Patroness. Mrs A. E. Mansford; president, Mrs M. Aitchison; vice-presidents, Mesdames J. A. Nash, A. Grigor, J. Hodgens, N. Blue kino re, T. Hewitt, L. A. Abraham, T. R. Moore, Misses M. McLagan, J. McGhie and Kelly; committee, Mesdanios H. Coles, H. Sinclair, J. Stone, TV. H. Richardson, J. Barsanti, S. J. Parkes/E. L. Christian, C. N. Rabone, A M Wilson W. Mouldey, Ashworth, p. Bennett, C. Hayward, V. G. Murphy and Miss Clark; secretary. Mrs RA. Bettle ; treasurer, Mrs \V. M. Huntington. Mesdames Moore and Grigor were elected conveners of the book committee. . . Mrs R. L. C. Aitchison had intimated that she did not seek re-election to the executive. Votes of thanks were accorded Messrs Colliiison and Cunninghame’s for use of a sewing room, and Mr A. E. Mansford for auditing tho balancesheet.