A story in the Bermuda Health Alliance supplement in yesterday's paper should have noted that the Women's Hospital Auxiliary was renamed the Hospitals Auxiliary of Bermuda in 1994. They accept male and female volunteers.

The volunteers of the Women's Hospital Auxiliary (WHA) are often the first persons to greet anyone entering King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

Known as `pink ladies' -- and men -- for their attire, they number 600 strong and donate 50,000 hours of volunteer service a year in various services at the Hospital.

Vivienne King is president of the Women's Hospital Auxiliary and also serves on the Bermuda Hospitals Board. She is proud of the work the members of her organisation do and the respect they command within the Hospital.

According to Mrs. King, the WHA started in 1953.

"At that time the Government grant to the Hospital covered little more than day-to-day operating cost and it was decided to form an auxiliary to improve the facilities and services in the hospital, and to raise funds and to encourage and promote volunteer help.

"Mrs. Warren Hallamore gave up her position on the hospital board of trustees to organise and establish the WHA. Mrs. Hallamore was the first President and retained that position for three years.'' The WHA, said Mrs. King, began with only eleven members but has swelled to 600 -- 400 of which are active volunteers.

"On a yearly basis the volunteers contribute over fifty thousand hours of volunteer labour to KEMH,'' said Mrs. King. "During the past forty five years volunteers have raised several million dollars which have been donated to the hospital to buy much needed equipment such as ambulances, wheelchairs, a bus for the Extended Care Unit, and a Cat Scan.'' Volunteers help the Hospital save on employee costs by staffing its lobby-based information desk 6 days per week between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Both the Medical Clinic, provided by KEMH for patients with limited resources, and the Fracture Clinic are staffed with clerical volunteers. Another vital and busy area staffed by volunteers is the area of the Emergency Room where patients are given directions on where to go for testing and all sorts of other information. And on Thursdays, volunteers take patients who choose to worship to the non-denominational chapel at KEMH.

Debra Byrd, serves as director of volunteers although employed by the Hospital and Amy Cook is volunteer membership chairperson faced with the duty of recruiting new volunteer memberships and giving tours of the Hospital.

It was in 1970, said Mrs. King, that His Excellency the Governor Lord Martonmere, presented the WHA with the Queen's Certificate and Badge of Honour, a citation for outstanding service to the community. This badge can today be seen on the far wall of the coffee shop which is located on the ground floor of the Hospital.

Laurel leaves, an emblem of distinction, are shaped in the form of a heart to signify willingness. Open hands portray the act of giving with the feeling of sympathy.

Said Mrs. King: "The whole design, with the motto `Ex Animo', symbolises `Giving unstintingly from the heart'.'' The Coffee Shop is one of the biggest money makers for the Auxiliary. Run by manager Joan Pike, its operations are also monitored by a successful `Coffee Shop Committee' chaired by Kay Mayor with the assistance of Mrs. Pike, Debbie Reiss, Vivienne King, Mary Adderley, Ann Englehardt and John Shaw.

A beehive of activity, its atmosphere is warmed by hanging plants which, with the friendly faces of the Auxiliary workers, make eating there a pleasant and calming experience. The menu in the friendly eatery are planned by Mrs. Pike and change each month.

Offering a valuable service to KEMH is the `Barn' formally called the Hospitals Auxiliary Thrift Shop. Located on Devon Springs Road in Devonshire, it is open daily to receive donated items.

The shop offers a wide variety of merchandise at very reasonable prices -- toys, clothes, shoes, furniture, books, bicycles, tennis racquets, kitchen stuff, almost everything imaginable. It also sells brand new children's white school shirts and khaki trousers, donated by a local merchant. An especially important part of the WHA is the `Overseas Family Help Services' chaired by Scott Richardson and currently run by Jean Bath. The unique operation is run, to provide care to families from abroad. "A volunteer is assigned to visit all overseas patients each day to offer non-medical services to the patient and/or the patient's visiting family. We further assist in finding accommodation for the visiting family members in private homes and reasonable guest houses near the hospital.'' The Candy Striper programme was established in 1964 and consists of youths between the ages of 14 and 18 years old.

Volunteers embark on a four-year programme for which they can earn points at school, and may be assigned by chairperson Penny Ray, to help out anywhere in the Hospital. The gift shop is handy for all sorts of nice purchases whether seeking a gift for a patient or even yourself. A variety of toys, books, picture frames, pens and pencils, note cards and candies are plentiful. The much-appreciated lending library is chaired by Pat Thompson. Books and magazines are wheeled around to patients on the floors and those waiting to be seen in the clinics. The library also provides those in the public areas of the Hospital with something to read. Many of the material is donated by residents for which the WHA is grateful. Mrs. King renders her last report as president this month after which her position will be held by Debbie Reiss, currently first vice-president. Aida Bostelmann, the Auxiliary's advisory chairperson, expressed her regrets about Mrs. King's departure: "I'm sorry to see her term end as she is one of the best presidents ever. Under her leadership we have accomplished so much for the hospitals.'' Persons interested in volunteering their aid to the Hospital and contributing to the worthy service provided by the Women's Hospital Auxiliary, should contact Amy Cook at KEMH. The Coffee Shop is open from Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The Barn is open to receive goods daily from 9 a.m. to noon. It opens to sell to the public Thursdays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. until noon. PHOTO Audrey Williams of the Women's Hospital Auxiliary happily takes in the cash from the Coffee Shop Women's Hospital Auxiliary volunteers from left: Auxiliary president Vivenne King, Debbie Reiss -- who is to succeed Mrs. King as president of the WHA this month, Aida Bostelmann and Jean Bath. Volunteers Eshani Ranasinghe (left) and Debbie Reiss serve delicious treats in the Coffee Shop. The Coffee Shop at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, run by volunteers of the WHA An award recognising the works of the WHA The WHA gift shop well stocked and organised with something for everyone HEALTH HTH