IN HOSPITAL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 36, 29 December 1944, Page 5

IN HOSPITAL

VISIT BY SANTA CLAUS

CHEERFUL W.ARD SCENES

Did you know that Father Christmas actually visits the Whakatane Hospital on Christmas Day and distributes gifts to all the patients there ? Did you know that the whole of the institution is decorated throughout especially for the occasion with flowers and streamers ? Did you know that on Christmas Eve the whole of the nursing staff which can be safely spared parades through the darkened wards carrying lighted candles and singing Christmas carols. If you dton't then you have missed one of the brighte'st highlights in our community at Christmas time. The hospital wards literally smiled with festoons of Iyeopodium great vases of flowers and gay streamers and crepe patterns. In the women's ward particular care, had been taken and the ward assumed the appearance of an old world Victorian garden with a tinv house and miniaf ture .sand garden at one end to set it off.

But it was in the centrally situated children's ward where all the excitement took place. Here a twelve loot Christmas tree occupied the whole ol' one corner, laden with tempting paper covered parcels and gleaming with coloured electric lights. Into this ward, careful nursing sisters transferred the. patients from all parts of the. hospital, whilst the 'walking wounded' found their way in and were accommodated in special chairs amongst the visitors who were privileged to be present. Here were gathered then almost everyone in the institution, aJI waiting eagerly the arrival of the red-

coated hero of the Christmas legend

He was not long in coming. Entering at a gallop s white Avhiskers flying, and knapsack bobbing up and down on his back, Santa Clans entered amidst scenes- of great enthusiasm. He breathlessly informed the assemblage of his long trip, of his endeavours to visit all who were sick and without' more ado proceeded to cut the parcels from the groaning pine-tree and distribute them round. The. fun was- at its height when a row of wooden charactures were handed by Santa with many a bow to Dr. Cole. This was greeted with roars of applause. Patient after patient was presented with a gift—now a large dolls-bed to a Avide-eyed little girl; now a wooden truck to a lusty lad with a bandaged arm. Even the nurses were not forgotten, and as Santa bounded from one to the he was a veritable dyndmo of activity and cheerfulness-.

The last of the gifts were, finally handed over and three hearty cheers for Santa Claus fairly made the roof buckle.

Mr A. F. Mcpougan on behalf of the Hospital Board then thanked the staff for the wonderful effort they had made to brighten the lot of those who were forced to remain in hospital over and expressed for the visitors their great appreciation of what they had seen and enjoyed. He only hoped that more people in the town ■would learn of the trouble the nursing sisters went to during the Christmas festival.

At the invitation of Matron Runciman all visitors were then the guests of. the stall' at a delicious morning tea, in which Christmas cake figured conspicuously.