DEVOTION TO DUTY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 88, 15 April 1941, Page 7

DEVOTION TO DUTY.

Praise For Voluntary Staffs In

Hospitals

DUKE OF KENT'S ADDRESS

RUGBY. April 14

Speaking as president of King Edward's Hospital Fund, the Duke o? Kent, in a broadcast, referred to the devotion and bravery of the men and women of the voluntary hospital staffs who keep the hospitals open in spite- of air raids.

Jf a casualty occurred in peace time, said the Duke, the swift arrival of an ambulance and swift transport to hospital to receive immediate expert aid were taken for granted. Xow. in spite of some hospitals being hit in almost every big raid, the same tiling happened.

"There is the same care, the same speed, the same thoroughness, and the same helping hand given by hospitals to anybody who is hurt or in need." he said. The Duke cited as typical of the spirit actuating the staffs" of hospitals an extract from a report prepared for the fund, and dealing with a well known London hospital.

"It had suffered two direct hits and in addition the roof of all the main building had been set on fire in a raid on December 29," the report said. •'The staff fought the fire successfully, three of its members being decorated for bravery. As a result of damage done, the nurses have no proper sleeping quarters. They have to manage with cots put up in their dining room. When the hospital was asked to comment on the damage and on the present position, all they could be persuaded to say was: 'Oil, we have had to rearrange the hospital so that it can continue to function.' "