PATIENTS & PRISONERS' AID SOCIETY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3426, 11 November 1919, Page 29

PATIENTS & PRISONERS' AID SOCIETY.

PROPOSED CONVALESCENT HOME AT WARJRINbTON.

We recently gave some particulars of the proposal of the Patients and Prisoners' Aid Society to establish a convalescent homo for hospital and other patients who have passed the acute stage of their illness, and only require a period of rest and quietness in a comfortable home, where every care will be taken of thein, to again fit them for the battle of life. This want has been felt for a long time in the community, and i 8 now about to be supplied. Tho society's agent has done his best to care for patients who are in the convalescent stage by sending them to homes in the country until they are restored to health, and the "'victoria Jubilee Convalescent Fund has to some* extent provided accommodation of the kind, but the combined efforts of the two organisations have at best only very partially met the need of a regular home such as the Patients and Prisoners' Aid Society now proposes to establish.

The society has been in active operation for over 42 years, and that its work is of the utmost value to the community is well known. The work done in the courts, the prison, _ and the general and mental hospitals is referred to in the highest terms by those in authority. During all the years of its existence the sick have been its special care, both in the way of supplying little comforts to hospital patients and others in need of help of the kind, and in the sphere in which it is about to extend its valuable poetical work! Convalescent patients have hitherto been sent to private homes in the country to such people as are willing to receive them on a paying basis. This method of dealing with such oases has for some time past been regarded by the committee and its agent as unsatisfactory, and the committee has felt that it is compelled to make a forward move to meet the growing need for a suitably-situated and properly-equipped convalescent home, under tho care of persons qualified for the work. A charmingly - situated property has been acquired at Warrington, and this will be added to under the direction of Mr Wiales, architect, who has taken great interest in the society's proposal, and has generously given his services without charge in inspecting the property that has been purchased, and also for the erection of necessary additions to the present building. It may be mentioned that Dr Hughes (District Health Officer) and Dr Sutherland have visited the Warrington property, and consider the site and locality ;mosfc suitahle for the purpose. The committee is, we are informed, about to launch an appeal for the necessary funds, the sum require 4 being £2OOO. This will cover the amount required for the purchase of the property and the additions that are to be made. Mr F. G. Gumming, the society's agent, is confident the pubho will not be appealed to in vain for this amount, and the committee bespeaks for him the practical help of those members of the community whose sympathies are with the. sick poor, and who recognise that in the hands of the Patients and Prisoners' Aid Society a valuable and beneficent project is certain to be wisely and successfully carried on. Mr dimming will, we understand, at once commence his effort to raise the sum required, and there can be little doubt that the public will respond generously to the appeal that is being made to them on behalf of the sick and suffering. We shall gladly take- charge of any subscriptions that may be sent to us.