Spreading the cheer
Staff and volunteers are doing their bit to make Wellington’s hospitals merry this Christmas.
The in-patient ward at Keneperu Hospital received some festive cheer when members of the Mana Embroidery Guild decorated it on Wednesday.
Pat Kee-Sue and Anne Brownie visited the hospital on behalf of the Embroidery Guild to present their handmade decorations.
Twenty volunteers had been working on the decorations since September and had produced a variety of colourful pieces to be hung on the ward’s Christmas tree.
‘‘We’re gifting them to the people who are going to be in hospital on Christmas day - hopefully it gives someone a bit of joy,’’ Kee-Sue said.
‘‘We thought we should give something back to the community.’’
The ladies were thanked by nurse manager Mikaela Shannon and the hospital’s activities co-ordinator Deepa Chetty.
Ward One of the Wellington Children’s Hospital in Newtown was also decked out in Christmas ornaments this week, thanks to Play Specialist Megan Stothart and volunteers from Spark and Contact Energy.
Metres and metres of tinsel decorate the ward, as well as three Christmas trees, and Santa visits almost everyday. The decorations have been well received by both parents and children at the hospital.
Stothart said it is especially important to have decorations up for the children who have to stay in hospital on Christmas Day.