Occupational Therapy At Auckland Hospital

Northern Advocate, 24 August 1943, Page 4

Occupational Therapy At Auckland Hospital

(.Special; AUCKLAND, This Day. Gratifying results arc being achieved among disabled servicemen with occupational therapy. Although such work has not yet been organised on an extensive, scale in Auckland, as part, of the military annexe at: the hospital, there is an occupational therapy section where there arc several weaving frames, facilities for leather-work, fretwork, woodwork, potters wheel, cloth toy making and a typewriter. One veteran, who sustained an uglv shrapnel wound in the left wrist at. Mersa Mafruh, has two fingers -of the hand affected. In conjunction with massage. lie finds that, touch-typing gives useful manipulation and exercise for the damaged members and he diligently spends hours a week practising tin: use of the typewriter. H>- says he can now use the ‘machine for lengthening periods without painful effects and with an occasional change to the potter’s wheel his hopes of ultimately bringing his fingers back to normal use are rising. Another soldier who also suffered a shattering shrapnel wound, finds woodwork a useful type of exercise and has made several ornate tobacco and nut bowls, besides other ornamental and useful articles.