Furniture right prescription for kids

BIT OF A BUZZ: Craig McInnes and Katie Reed with the new furniture in the Whangarei Hospital's children ward that "brings a bit of nature to the inside environment".

A Northland company has introduced more fun into the lives of patients at Whangarei Hospital's children's ward with the donation of innovative furniture worth thousands of dollars.

Ward resident Katie Reed has spent a fair amount of time in the playroom since she was diagnosed with bronchiectasis (permanent enlargement of the airways of the lung) two years ago and was one of the first beneficiaries of the donation.

This week she, along with staff members, was thrilled with the donation of a truck-load of new wooden playroom furniture, thanks to the generosity of a local father.

The furniture was made by the man behind Hebe Natural Children's Furniture, Craig McInnes of Opua, who brought it up to the ward on Tuesday.

The furniture comprises a circular table and chairs, miniature stools, a convertible table/play box and modular shelving made from leyland cypress.

A boat builder by trade, Mr McInnes began making children's furniture after a family member's request for several items and "it went from there".

That was three years ago and he now supplies kindergartens and daycare centres as far south as Christchurch, first trying out his creations on his 3-year-old.

"It's nice to be able to give something to the community, I get a bit of a buzz out of it," Mr McInnes said.

Play specialist Joan Livingstone says the ward team is "absolutely thrilled to pieces with the donation and the fact that it is local."

"We are overwhelmed by his generosity and blown away by it."

Play specialist Karen Parker added it "brings a bit of nature to the inside environment".

And Katie, 10, says her regular hang-out, is now "very cool". Last month, Katie's inspirational story led to her being chosen as one of the faces of Countdown's Kids Hospital Appeal to raise money to buy medical equipment to help sick Kiwi kids.