A Visit to the Avondale Mental Hospital

Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, Volume XVI, Issue 4, 1 October 1927, Page 212

A Visit to the Avondale Mental Hospital

The visit of the Auckland Refresher Group to the Avondale Mental Hospital will long last m our memory. The day was dull, and rain showers fell, but a comfortable corporation bus had been commissioned to convey us to the institution. The grounds were bright with rich coloured beds of anemones which gave a brightness the sunshine denied. We assembled m the large reception hall, where the Medical Superintendent and Matron introduced us .to the staff and were then divided into groups and escorted through the institution. The wards were bright, fresh, clean and gay with flowers, and the day rooms had an air of calm rest and quiet so necessary for such cases.' Many of the inmates were busy at sewing and fancy work, and apart from an occasional utterance one might have been passing through a hotel lounge. Next, the sick wards — these are m charge of general trained Sisters, and the patients looked exceedingly comfortable and well cared' for. The ward equipment, with high beds, rubber castors, white-topped lockers, with neat curtains with scarlet bands across the front, gave a neatness and brightness to the ward; there was plenty of light and a delightful view. These wards were quite equal to any m our general hospitals. The refractory wards were spotlessly clean, and well arranged for the care and protection of the patients. The kitchen where food is cooked for 1,200 patients was very good of its type; many of the inmates assist m this department. One patient present came forward

when requested by the Medical Superintendent and willingly chatted with the group. She was quite proud of her age — 71 years — and that she was the mother of 13 children. The laundry and sewing rooms were each reviewed m turn and presented the same well-managed appearance. After a survey of the well-kept grounds and gardens we visited the Nurses' Home. This has just been opened — not an elaborate structure, but each nurse is given the comfort of a bedroom to herself, plenty of bath and shower appointments, and a well fitted up kitchenette. The Sisters' sitting room is comfortably furnished and has a very nice outlook. The nurses' sitting room is large, attractive rugs on the floor, plenty of bright covered easy chairs and restful chesterfields. There were pretty flowers and the welcome of a bright fire. This room has a very bright, cheerful outlook, which is very necessary with this type of nursing. The Medical Superintendent, Matron and Staff kindly dispensed a most refreshing afternoon tea. which all present greatly appreciated. Afterwards the Matron, Miss Brand, took the opportunity of speaking to the group. She expressed her pleasure at so many coming on such a wet afternoon, she emphasised the great need for affiliation between the General Hospital and Mental Hospital, and appealed for recognition by the New Zealand Trained Nurses' Association of the line group* of women it had been her pleasure to work with m her own institu-

tion. She spoke feelingly of their superior qualities and loyalty to their work which we well know they must possess by the slight experience we receive m General Hospital with these cases. These steps for affiliation have been taken m Great Britain and many other countries. It would be a step m the right direction if the General Hospital could send its students for four months' special

training m handling and nursing the mentally sick patient. Miss Bicknell then thanked Miss Brand and her staff for the interesting afternoon they had given the group, and mentioned how it had dispelled many misunderstandings about such institutions. We all took away happy recollections of our visit to the Avondale Mental Hospital. J.A.M.