VALUE OF THE V.A.D.'S

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 146, 21 June 1940, Page 4

VALUE OF THE V.A.D.'S

CIVILIAN CASUALTIES AIDED

, The Civil Nursing Reserve has been irecruited primarily for dealing with civilian casualties in hospitals and first-aid posts, states the "New Zealand Herald's" London correspondent. When called up for duty,, a trained nurse receives £90 per annum, plus board, lodging, and laundry. Assistant nurses receive £55, and nursing auxiliaries £2 a week for non-resi-dents. Many of the trained nursing auxiliaries have been through the home nursing course and . other courses organised by the British Red Cross Society, the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, and the St. Andrew's Ambulance Association.

The Joint War Organisation of the British Red Cross and the Order of St. John has been responsible for passing 3000 to 4000 V.A.D.S for service in military, naval, and Air Force hospitals. It has also recruited trained nurses for service in these hospitals. The V.A.D.s have passed examinations in first aid, home nursing, and antigas in their local detachments. The Central Hospital Supply Service, organised in England and Wales under the Joint War Organisation, has already spent £70,000 on work parties. Over 1,000,000 yards of material and 36f tons of knitting wool have been sent by the Central Hospital Supply Service committee to affiliated work parties in England and Wales, and a further large consignment is being dispatched. There are 155,000 women workers co-operating in part-time capacity, through affiliated depots in England and Wales. There are also a large number of linked work parties. The Red Cross and St. Andrew's Ambulance Association are doing similar work in Scotland.