COUNTING DOWN TO GOLDEN JUBILEE BABY
Every baby is special but the first baby born in the maternity unit at Auckland’s North Shore Hospital on July 28 will be an extra special delivery.
That’s because he or she will also be the first baby to arrive on the golden anniversary of the hospital’s maternity services.
“We have a little something planned for that arrival, and also for all the mothers and babies who are in our maternity unit on the golden anniversary,” says Lucy Casey, North Shore Hospital Maternity Facility manager.
But the 50-year celebration is doubly significant in that it also marks the beginnings of North Shore Hospital as it stands today.
Though the original hospital had 44 maternity beds and was primarily an obstetric facility, it also had limited x-ray facilities, a blood bank, laboratory, physiotherapy department, and a six-bed casualty department – making it the forerunner of today’s hospital.
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OREWA MUM TO HELP MARK 50-YEAR MATERNITY ANNIVERSARY
When North Shore Hospital’s Maternity Service celebrates its 50th anniversary on July 28, Orewa resident Margaret Golding will have a special role to play.
Mrs Golding gave birth to the first boy ever born at North Shore Hospital on 1 August 1958, and will help to unveil a commemorative plaque in the hospital’s maternity unit.
However it was only a matter of timing that meant Christopher Thomas Hands, who now lives in Australia, was delivered at North Shore Hospital and not the existing Devonport Naval Hospital.
“Because Chris was late arriving – about a week late – I was fortunate I could go to the North Shore Hospital instead of way out to Devonport,” Margaret says.
“It was brand new and I don’t think anybody had been in that bed before me! So that was lovely. I can remember the meals – they were quite nice and the nurses were always very, very friendly. And of course we had to stay there for two weeks…when you think back it’s a long time but it was quite good to recover - especially when you already had two little ones and a husband to look after!”
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