Northland hospital visitors welcome comfy chairs

Whangarei Hospital patient Leonard Henare tries out one of the new reclining chairs, surrounded by sponsors and hospital staff. Photo/Michael Cunningham

Reclining chairs will make the job of supporting a sick loved one in hospital a little bit softer.

The first three of 21 chairs, paid for by the fundraising efforts of local Lions clubs and other organisations, were delivered to Ward 14 at Whangarei Hospital on Friday.

Twenty of the chairs will be scattered throughout the coronary care unit and surgical and medical wards at Whangarei Hospital, while one will be used at Kaitaia Hospital.

Ward 14 patient Leonard Henare, known as Lionel, was happy to be the first to sit in a chair, and said his partner would test drive it later on Friday evening.

Ward 14 clinical nurse manager Denise Watene said the new chairs are going to be amazing.

"It's a bit tricky at the bedside if someone stays. This is ideal."

Ms Watene said staff encourage families to stay overnight and the chairs will provide a decent place to sleep.

They will also help families who come from outside of Whangarei and want to stay, she said.

Made in Kaiwaka, the Romeo Recliners feature lumbar support and the correct seat height and depth to provide comfort.

The Whangarei Lions Club donated $17,765 raised from the 2016 Fireworks night and proceeds from a Joseph Parker fight night fundraiser.

The Tutukaka and Onerahi Lions clubs, the Kamo Club and Cowley's Hire have sponsored a chair each and Contractors for Charity and Gallagher's have sponsored two each.

In total the chairs were worth around $30,000. The Health Fund Plus from the Northland Foundation topped up the donations from the Lions groups.