National Hospital Day at Wellington Hospital

Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, Volume XXII, Issue 3, 1 July 1929, Page 138

National Hospital Day at Wellington Hospital

On Sunday, May 12th, the first celebration of National Hospital Day took place at the Wellington Hospital. For .several years this day has been celebrated at Dunedin, which was the first of the New Zealand Hospitals to institute the function. The birthday of Florence Nightingale is chosen as a fitting time, and thus it serves as a constant reminder of our great pioneer of modern nursing.

"The great object," as Mr. Luke. Chairman of the Wellington Hospital stated m his address, "is to stimulate interest m hospital work, which now occupied such a prominent place m all the leading countries of the world."

The function was held m the out-pa-tient hall, and the hall was well filled by the nursing staff of the Hospital, the Medical Superintendent and the President of the British Medical Association, N.Z. Branch, members of the Hospital Board, Miss Bicknell. Director Division of Nursing, and many other nurses and members of the public.

Dr. Elliott gave a very interesting, though brief, account of the life of Florence Nightingale, whom he described as of the most illustrious of women, and one who recognised the necessities of the modern hospital, and the importance of

not having too many sick people m one ward.

Dr. Elliott read Longfellow's beautiful poem, "The Lady of the Lamp." and concluded: "The Lamp of Florence Nightingale has long gone out m the Crimea, but it still burns m memory of her m the hearts of anyone who knows anything of her noble life, which she gave not only to England and the British Empire, but to the whole world."

A letter, written by Florence Nightingale to one of her nurses, was then read:

My Dear Nurse Lyons, — I remember that the clay is approaching when the "Matron of ■ the Ship Carnatic" is to sail from Plymouth. And I send you (with my heartiest wishes for your best success and prayers) by rail to Saltburn "Churchill',^ Midwifery," the book you chose. And also "Pilgrim's Progress," which no doubt you have read; but which expresses my highest hopes for your pilgrimage, that you may be as you say, "faithful to your trust," and that we all may be faithful to God, to His work, and to one another. And if we never meet again here, remember where we shall see one another if we are faithful. From your affectionate fellow pilgrim, Florence Nightingale,

The recipient, who has since passed away, presented this letter and the books mentioned m it to the Grace- Niell Library. It is dated 12th October, 1877.