AMBULANCE WORK.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue 43, 19 August 1908, Page 3

AMBULANCE WORK.

THE ST. JOHN ASSOCIATION, a ANNUAL REPORT.

[ The annual report of the St. John j Ambulance Association mentions that the j operations of the Wellington Centrr werewell maintained during the year, and the nursing staff was kept exceedingly busy. The classes for instruction and first aid I were attended by 534 students. Public appreciation of the association's work was shown by a collection of £330 8s 2d made on Ambulance Saturday. A subsidy of £250 on this amount was granted by the Government, and in accordance with a previously passed resolution, the whole sum of £580 8s 2d was devoted in the proportion of three-fourths to the nursing fund and one-fourth to the general fund. At the close of the financial year the association received a gift of £500 from the late Mr. T. M. M'Menamen, to be devoted to the nursing of" tha sick poor. During the year twentynina first aid and four home nursing classes were held, and they were attended by 284 men and 250 women, out of which number 205 men and 144 women passed tho examinations. Classes were also held at Feilding, Greymouth, Hawera, Lower Hutt, Martinborougb, Marton, Masterton, Napier, Otaki, Palmerston North, Petone, Takapau, Te Nui, Upper Hutt, and Wanganui. During the year the horse ambulance was used very extensively, but the time has arrived when a more up-to-date conveyance is necessary for this responsible work, and the incoming committee will find this matter to be one of the first importance. The association's balance of assets over liabilities is set down as £716 13s lid (which includes £300 on deposit, £336 12s 5d invested in ambulance gear in the district ; and £66 16s 5d cash in bank). The balance to credit of the District Nursing Guild Department is £3784. 19s 3d (including an amount of £3466 16s invested as a fund for the nursing of the sick poor, £200 on deposit, and £126 11s cash in the bank). DISTRICT NURSING GUILD. In addition to the sum of £500 bequeathed by the late Mr. M'Menamen, a sum of £300 was left by the late 7\lr. W. R. E. Brown to augment the capital account of the district nursing fund. Applications for the services of Nurses Sexton and Macandrew continue to increase, and during the months of June, July, and August their work was exceptionally heavy. Individual members of the nursing division, including Sisters Costello and Higgie, have supplemented the efforts of the District Nurses on different occasions, and their practical assistance has been much appreciated. Since last report, 227 additional patients have been registered, and no less than 10,102 visits paid to people who were indigent and ill. A number of ladies and gentlemen have generously and regularly supplied the nurses with nourishing diets and other comforts for the sick and convalescent poor, some of the gifts including blankets, clothing, and coal. Illness among children has been very prevalent, whilst "First Aid" treatment is frequently rendered at the rffice. The committee gratefully thanks the annual subscribers and others for £245 14s Id received "during the year (including £11 from the entertainment of "Sweet Lavender"), and desires to place on i-ecord its appreciation of the practical interest manifested in the work of the guild by the president. The sum of £289 17s 9d has been expended on the maintenance of the district nursing work during the year, towards which £92 15s 8d was received in the form of interest on moneys invested. As the appointment, of a third professional nurse may become necessary in the near future, the committee venture to hope that the citizens of Wellington will continue to support the district nursing work in increasing numbers. THE AMBULANCE BRIGADE. Fifteen new divisions have been added to the roll of the St. John Ambulance Brigade in New Zealand, and the membership, which stood at 652 twelve months ago, has now attained 1050. In the Wellington district five new divisions have been organised, viz., ambulance unite at Napier, Masterton, Wanganui, and Hawera, and also a nursling division at the latter place. The newly- formed unit at Masterton will take the place of the old division which has been in a moribund state for some time. It is desired to establish branches, of the brigade at all places where the association classes have been held. BRIGADE NURSING DIVISION. Mention is made, in the report concerning this section, of the excellent work done in organising the St. John Ambulance Nursing Guild bazaar, the net result of which exceeded £1400. Practical lessons in first aid and nursing work have been demonstrated by Nurses Sexton and Macandrew, which, combined with the instruction imparted by the honorary surgeon, have proved most beneficial. The roll-book .shows a membership of 462. The members of the guild have shown a willingness to assist the professional nurses when their services have been required, and in this connection it is noted that during the past year the professional nurses have been exceptionally busy working among the i^ick poor, and have done a large amount of good in alleviating pain and' suffering.