More Info →Foxton Maternity Home 1942-1982 Page 33

Description

[continued from previuos page]

dedication from the nurse-aids!

From clothes line, to airing on the wooden-and-rope rack which was hoisted up above the kitchen coal range and from there to folding and stacking and putting into the Nursery to further air on a heater, then on to baby again.
Three Napkins per baby were used at one time.
The same process was carried out with the baby gowns etc.

Eventually an electric boiler for napkins was installed, but of course the rest of the laundering of napkins process was the same as previously explained,- then in time all laundry was taken in large white laundry bags to the Palmerston North hospital laundry via a hospital truck.

The Hot Water "Donkey" was the means of boiling water for the home and was often the cause of much frustration for nurse-aids as it was rather cantankerous and a struggle to keep alight, so there were many trips to the laundry to battle with it in the middle of doing other duties. Some-how the knowledge that Joycie Cocks's floor polish was an excellent accelerant resulted in a, "Mystery of the Missing Polish!"

Floods from the Laundry were sometimes another big clean up job, (which was of a nurse-aids own making) and of course a sight that one would find so frustrating,- to see water running along the passage and down the back steps to outside! It meant time and energy to clean up especially when the maternity hospital was very busy! Plus, one would feel such a dope for forgetting the running taps! which you would be positive that you would not forget, as you dashed off to see to another chore!

(Anonymous)

A Sharp Move...

On night-shift I would have five knives pushed into the back door jamb as security because the Home was not locked at the back at all. (The front door had a lock) Many a time, Doctor Teppett would have to wait to get inside while I removed the knives. (He came to the rear door so as not to disturb sleeping patients.)

Thanks Loma Betty (nee Cocks)
(Former nurse-aid)

Beware! Crawlies!

A number of staff had a horror of the Weta's that parked themselves on the rear flat steps and walls of the porch at night. Staff had to go into the flat to change into uniform, so the outside light was left on for the night staff, but of course it attracted wetas.

Because of my fear of weta's when it was my time for night-duty I remember that I would sneaky take some fresh uniforms home (which was a "no-no") so I did not have to change in the flat at the rear or the Home - but I had to go in anyway to leave my bag

[continued on next page]

Identification

Date

2005