NURSES AND INFLUENZA.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 119, 19 May 1920, Page 5

NURSES AND INFLUENZA.

AMBULANCE , BRIGADE'S BEQUEST. The additional expenditure incurred by the St. John Ambulance Brigade in its influenza combative operations under the district nursing scheme has meant a considerable drain on the resources of ' the brigade, and it solicited help from i the Charitable Aid Board at ita meeting ' last night. The request explained that j two nurses were working among the f> sick and poor of the city and suburbs, and they in turn had gone down, and it was only as the result of voluntary labour and the assistance of a nurse from the district health office ihat the work of mercy was able to be carried on. Recently the brigade nurse visited 450 cases, an average of between 40 and 50 per day. This had been possible only by the use of motor cars, and the volunteer service had not been sufficient. Expenses for motor fuel, food, and untrained assistance amounted already to £50, which was not contemplated in the brigade's activities, and it therefore felt jußtilied in asking the Board for a grant to c*'cr the expenditure incurred. In reply, the Chairman said that this opened up a. big question, as the work carried on by the brigade so far as the nursing service was concerned was encroaching on the operations of the Charitable Aid Committee. ha foreshadowed the appointment of nurses by the board to do this class of work. Their services in rendering assistance in raild epidemics of this nature would be invaluable. A little help of this kind would prevent a number of cases coming to the hospital. On Mr. Wallace's suggestion the request was refcired to the Finance and Charitable Aid Committees for report.