AMBULANCES IN DEMAND

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29843, 8 June 1962, Page 13

AMBULANCES IN DEMAND

More Finance Needed

Only about one-third of those carried by Christchurch ambulances of the St. John Ambulance Association reply to letters inviting donations, the secretary of the Christchurch sub-centre of the association (Mr G A Brown) said yesterday The hospital board made a payment for the carriage of its outpatients, but from any other viewpoint the ambulance service did not rank as a tree benefit under social security, said Mr Brown. He thought this was not generally realised. The subcentre's finances, already <strained to maintain the ambulances, would need to be augmented considerably in line with the ever-increasing demand. “We hope that our many friends will come to our aid,” he said. Last month. Mr Brown added, the number of patients carried and the number of miles travelled were each a record. The number of patients was 1797. which was 661 more than in May last vear and 636 more than in May, 1960. The number of miles travelled was 11.138, compared with 8897 in May. 1961, and 7703 in the same month the year before. “If calls on our ambulances continue at this rate, there seems no doubt In my mind '.hat our fleet may have to be enlarged and our driving staff augmented, which will mean we shall have to get more money from somewhere,” said Mr Brown.