Facelift for hospital

AN APPEAL for £2 million was launched last week to modernise the Sisters of Mercy Hospital of St John and St Elizabeth, in St John's Wood, London. This charitable nursing hospital was founded in 1892 after the Sisters of Mercy returned from their work in assisting Florence Nightingale with the wounded and the sick in the Crimean war.
After a century of dedicated service the old hospital is in need of ward conversions, new twin operating theatres, the expansion of its famous renal unit, and the continuance of its continuing care unit for cancer sufferers, and others with' terminal illnesses, to receive recurrent treatment for the relief of pain, and, in the end, to die with dignity with the advantage of specialist nursing.
The Earl of Perth, joint chairman of the hospital executive committee, invited Mr Malcolm Muggeridge to launch the appeal before a distinguished audience. The Duke of Norfolk, joint chairman, sent a message of support from his hospital bed. He had broken his hip in a fall from a low wall near his home.
The aim of the appeal is to have a fully modernised hospital with 100 beds, independent of the state, but offering half of them to those in medical need, irrespective of their ability to pay.
Donors are invited to send subscriptions to the appeal office, 60, Grove End Road, St John's Wood, London NW8.