BATCHELOR HOSPITAL GUILD

Evening Star, Issue 21742, 9 June 1934, Page 10

BATCHELOR HOSPITAL GUILD

REPLY TO RECENT CRITICISM “I do not,think there is anything one can criticise in regard to the work at the hospital,” said Miss L. A. White, secretary .of the Batchelor Hospital Guild, whilst referring to recent Press correspondence at the guild’s twentyseventh annual meeting yesterday afternoon, when Mrs J, M. Gallaway presided over fifteen members. “ We noticed a letter in the Press stating that no celebrities visiting the city ever went to the Batchelor Hospital, but this is not so,” stated the report. “ Two years ago their Excellencies Lord and Lady Bledisloe, accompanied by the mayor and mayoress and members of the executive, spent a very enjoyable morning and were entertained by the matron and staff at morning tea. Mr Victor Bonnie, an English doctor of obstetrics, also was pleased and interested in the hospital and its work.”

Speaking of the visit of celebrities to the hospital, Miss R. Every (matron) said that a few weeks ago Dr Sylvia Chapman, of Wellington, had been so greatly impressed with the theatre bed (designed especially for Batchelor) that a similar bed was to be made for St. Helens Hospital, Wellington, of which she was an officer; Criticism had also been levelled at the hospital because patients were allowed to leave too soon. The fact was that no person left the hospital' until the authorities were perfectly satisfied that she was fit and well and that the conditions to which the mother and child were going were suitable.

One hundred garments had been handed to the hospitaLduring the year, the report stated. Extra and very acceptable. donations of work had. been received from Mrs Cook and Misses M'Leau and Graham. Three well-at-tended meetings had been held during the year, and the membership included thirty active and four associate members. .

The balance-sheet disclosed a credit balance of £2 12s 6d.

The report and balance-sheet were adopted. . . . The thanks and appreciation of the nursing staff and patients for the guild’s assistance were conveyed by Miss Every, who said that the guild’s work frequently saved the nurses no end of trouble, and saved mothers from hurriedly preparing so many new and good things. Less had been asked of the guild during the year; purposely so, on account of prevailing economic conditions. For the year ended May 31 the number of patients had been 292, including 136 who had previously been inmates. At one time there had been ten old patients in the hospital together. Still more than half the mothers were persons whose husbands were receiving relief or charitable aid. OFFICE-BEARERS. The election of office-bearers resulted: —President, Mrs J. M. Gallaway; vicepresidents—Mesdames S. Batchelor, Russell Ritchie, D. Ramsay, and J. Dawson; committee —Mesdames W. E. Carswell, Benjamin, and Garth Gallaway; honorary secretary and, treasurer, Miss L. A. White.