DELAY TO AMBULANCE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20901, 29 September 1942, Page 2

DELAY TO AMBULANCE

HOSPITAL BOARD VIEW WAIKOHU COMPLAINT The complaint from the Waikohu County Council of the long time taken by the ambulance on a trip to Tahunga last Week, when a journey commenced during the night did not terminate on its return to hospital until 7 a.m., was placed before the Cook Hospital Board at its meeting yesterday afternoon, when it was decided to refer matters in regard to the running of the ambulance to a committee of control comprising members of the Hospital Board and the St. John Ambulance. A letter from the Waikohu County Council stated that the ambulance did not arrive at the rendezvous near Pendreigh’s bridge until 3 a.m. The managing-secretary. Mr. C. A. Harries, reported that the St. John Ambulance Association’s secretary. Mr. M. J. White, maintained that the statements made by tire Waikohu County Council were not in accordance With fact and had expressed his views in a statement to the Herald.. The Medical Superintendent, Dr. R. J. B. Hall, said that after the message regarding the child’s despatch to hospital had been received, lie waited np until 1.30 a.m. for the arrival of the patient. He was told that the ambulance was bogged beyond the Hangaroa turn-off. Mrs. Ada E. Beer said that several complaints had been made regarding the way in which the ambulance was driven, ancl several of the patients had been severely shaken up, Mr. S. T. Gray said a settler in the district stated that he was called out of bed to get the ambulance out of a watertable where a slight washout had occurred. The night was not fine, but was foggy and wet, and the road was not fit for such a vehicle, according to the settler’s statement. The board decided to refer the matler to the ambulance committee appointed by the board and the St. John Ambulance Association.