AMBULANCE WORK. REPORT OF ST. JOHN BRIGADE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 84, 10 April 1911, Page 3

AMBULANCE WORK. REPORT OF ST. JOHN BRIGADE.

i The annual report of the St. John, Ambulance Brigade furnishes some interesting details of the wciking of this important and useful body. Mr. H. li. Ssed is in charge of the Wellington district, and there are ambulance and nursing divisions in "Wellington, Petone, jlasterton, Napkr, Falmerston North, Wanganui, and Hawera. There are now 72 corps and divisions on the roll, and the membership totals 1486. The various city and suburban divisions ir> Wellington have been organised into the Wellington Corps, and this has alreacJy resulted in benefit to the divisions concerned. It is hoped to establish, nursing divisions at Napier and Wanganui during the coming year. The annual returns show that the number of first aid easss attendee' to, on public: duty was 588 as against 385 for the previous year. The number of removals was 251. against 150 for the preceding year. It appears to be now bs coming better known to the general public that members give their services gratuitously in connection with the removal and transport of sick and injured persons. The number ot cases, of first aid attended, not on public duty, was 878, as against 617 for the previous year. The number of cases nursed privately by members of nursing divisions was 363, as against 97 far 1909, the largest number being supplied by Palmerston North nursing division. This is a branch of the brigade work which, is becoming more and more recognised' and appreciated. The advaucc made by the various branches in New Zealand is shown by t-he following figures :—: — 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 First aid eases attended to on ' ' public duty 37 50 178 585 588 Removal of patients ... 41 '62 147 150 251 Firit aid cases attended to not on public duty ... 107 250 576 617 S7B Cases nursed privately ... 21 45 81 97 363 Keen interest is shown in tin brigade by tho medical profession, doctors giving a great deal of time to tho instiuction of members. There are 77 medical gentlemen enrolled as district chief surgeons, chief surgeons, and honorary surgeons. The attendance of brigade members ml public gatherings shows a marked increase, and the value of their services has been appreciated, and recognised m laudatory terms, and in seme instances by donations to the funds. Representatives of the brigade ay* required at various places, where it is hoped to establish units, and the co-operation of any ladies and gentlemen interested is solicited. During the past year the following appointments have been made by Hie Grand Priory of the Order of St. John in recognition of services rendered in the cause of ambulance work : — Mrs. S.. A. Rhodes, president of the Wellington Nursing Division, to be Lady of Grace-; Miss J. D. Hooper, ladj' superintendent of the Dunedin Nursing Division, to be Honorary Sewing Sister; District Chief Superintendent Bone (Dunedin), an:l District Chief Superintendent Lindsay (Chrisfcchurch). to be Honorary Serving Brotheis; Dr. 11. M. Inglis, District Chi-ef Surgeon {Christchurch; to be Honorary Associate. Certificates foi five years* service had been awarded as follow : — Wellington Nursing Division — Mrs. S. A. Rhodes (president), Mrs. E. Balcombe-Brown, and Mrs. W. S. Moorhouse (vice-presi-dents), Mrs. S. H. Fisher (lady superintendent), Mrs. M. H. Pearson, Misses M. E. Robieson, M. Powles, E. A. Carroll, E. Helyer, I. B. Wilson, Rev. Mother Mary Aubert, Sisters Mary Agnes, Mary Marcelle, Mary Veronica. Mary Salome, Mary Jeanne, Mary Chanel, Mary Eliza4>eth, Mary Alphonsus, Mary Anthony, Mesdames K. Ereston, M. C. M'Whannell, Nurse A. Sexton. . As the result of a oazaar held at Masterton, £350 was raised for the District Nurses' Fund. * Ambulance Saturday at Napier realised £33 5s 6d for the purchase of ambulance appliances for the town. The Petone division was successful in raising funds for tho purchase of an ambulance wagon, and t"ne members of the Wellington Nursing Division assisted in holding; a successful bazaar in aid of the St. John Ambulance Nursing GuiM.