Staff shine in the spirit of Christmas

FESTIVE CHEER: Wairarapa Hospital perioperative administrator Lisa Manihera and nurse educator Amber Cox pass the donated gifts to Masterton Salvation Army lieutenant Daryn Bishop and his son Wilson, 3. PHOTO/LYNDA FERINGA

There's plenty of Christmas cheer at Wairarapa Hospital with hard-working staff going out of their way to celebrate the festivities with patients.

Carol singing was held in the wards on Thursday, with about 35 people singing songs on request to patients, said Jill Stringer, communications manager Wairarapa & Hutt Valley DHBs.

"The Rathkeale and St Matthew's choir Viva Camerata added some lovely harmonies."

She said they sang many classics, as well as Silent Night to a new born in maternity.

Ms Stringer said Christmas at the hospital was all about spreading joy to the patients who weren't able to get home.

She said the most touching moment was singing carols to a man who had had a stroke.

He wasn't able to communicate which song he wanted to hear so they had to get a song list so he could point to his choice

"The look on his face made it all worthwhile."

Staff also donated food for the food bank, toys to the Salvation Army, and raised money for bicycles for midwives in Africa.

Perioperative staff Lisa Manihera and Jenny Ewen organised the toy appeal and estimated there were more than 150 gifts.

Ms Manihera said usually they did a secret Santa for each other but this year wanted to give gifts to children.

"We just decided we wanted to give and not receive."

Masterton Salvation Army lieutenant Daryn Bishop said more than 200 kids would receive the presents.

"We are really grateful to the hospital and their staff, and the wider community who have rallied around and been very generous in their giving."

WDHB communications adviser Jan McLaren said everybody who came to the hospital's Christmas barbecue also donated something for the food bank.

The annual ward decorating competition took place, with the family room at the Child Adolescent Mental Health Service scooping top prize for their Narnia winter wonderland theme. "The kids all did it with a bit of help from a couple of staff members," said Ms McLaren.

Though midwives here can rely on vehicles to see their patients in the rural areas of Wairarapa, some midwives in Africa have to walk to remote towns to help mums and babies.

Wairarapa Hospital midwives led a campaign which raised $450 to buy bikes for midwives to get to birthing emergencies quicker, increasing survival rates.

Midwife Carol Wheeler said this was enough money for four bikes, which would be sent through World Vision's Smiles gift programme.

She said the rest of the money will go towards an emergency treatment kit for babies and water purification tablets.

Mrs Wheeler said thanks to children at St Mary's School in Carterton, who held a mufti day fundraiser, and the donations from hospital staff, they exceeded their goal.

"Our aim was for two bicycles, so we have far exceeded what we'd hoped for."

She said staff normally bought Christmas cards for each other but decided to do something different this year.