HELP FOR NEEDY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 234, 3 October 1935, Page 9

HELP FOR NEEDY.

ST. JOHN AMBULANCE.

TRANSPORT AND ATTENDANCE APPEAL MADE FOR SUPPORT. Throughout the year there is 110 more deserving appeal made for public support than that sponsored by the St. John Ambulance Association—and tomorrow that appeal will be made. It is a community appeal and afi appeal to each individual member of the community. The grey ambulance, rushing through tiic streets to attend some unfortunate and the uniformed men in attendance at every sports meeting are the outward evidences of a service that is given every hour of the day throughout the year; a service that costs nothing to the public and asks only a generous response to its annual appeal.

In the year ended August 31, 1035, the ambulance service provided by the association carried 09'2G patients and the eight ambulances travelled 72,440 miles in doing so. In 'addition it attended 4175 people who were injured on the wharves. That is one aspect of the case, but there are dozens of others. Under the same banner is the district nursing service, an organisation that is a marvel of efficiency and that each year gives invaluable assistance to many thousands of people. Nursing Service. For this service fully trained registered nurses are employed and their services are at the disposal of anyone who requires assistance during illness. In the year just ended these nurses travelled 18,970 miles and attended 13,407 patients in their homes. But that was not all they did. A clinic is established at the ambulance station and at this 5945 patients attended for treatment and advice. . Here again there is fully qualified service and the clinic has proved a valuable adjunct to the hospital service of the city. Over half the attendances at this clinic are those of children.

There is in addition the brigade service that provides first aid treatment at 30 sports grounds each week and it can be readily imagined, what the result would be if that service were suddenly withdrawn. There is hardly a football match, for instance, where some player docs not require immediate attention for some injury and were it not readily available at the referee's whistle there might on occasions be serious result.

Missions and kindergartens are regularly attended by members of the brigade and again valuable service is given. But perhaps one of the most interesting, most valuable and least known service provided by the organisation known as the St. .Tolin Ambulance Association is that centred in the Medical Comforts Depot at the station. Here are all types of equipment that might be needed in a home where there is sickness. At the present time ">0 invalid chairs are out on loan from the depot in addition to dozens of pairs of crutches and other essential articles. Need For Assistance. That service is centred in the city itself, but the ambulance activity extends in a wide radius throughout the country. For instance, an ambulance man is stationed at Waiheke island and on many occasions he has made strenuous journeys to bring aid'to sick and in jured in remote parts .of the island. For all this work money is required — money for the upkeep of ambulances, money for rates on the buildings in which the association's activities are centred and money, too. to pay the interest on the association's overdraft. Last year all these items cost a total of about £4370. and had* it not been I hat the greater part of (he work involved is done by volunteers it would have cost a very great deal more.

The members of the brigade <rivc hours nii'l clays of their time and they give money, too. The hi? overdraft carried by tlie association is at present backed entirely by members of the executive committee ! > "d two private citizens. About "i'l per cent of (hose who received assistance Inst year were nimble to give even n small donation and the association rcclvs 110 subsidy ill all from the Government. Now it is faced with the purchase of two new .ambulances and with the provision of a more widespread service owinjr tn the Growth of the city. The association asks assistance from the public to meet these charges and it asks it urgently.