AMBULANCE WORK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22538, 1 October 1936, Page 15

AMBULANCE WORK

AUCKLAND ACTIVITIES WIDESPREAD BENEFITS TO-MORROW'S STREET APPEAL Support for an institution that operates in a wide sphere is being sought to-morrow, when the annual street appeal of the St. John Ambulance will be made. Although there is an ever-growing recognition of the value of the St. John Ambulance service to the community, Aucklanders still do not fully appreciate what a high standard the organisation has reached. This is what Colonel J. L. Sleeman, chief commissioner of tho St. John Ambulance Brigade Overseas and His Royal Highness the Graud Prior's Visitation to New Zealand, wrote in the visiting book this year after his inspection:— "I congratulate tho commissioner, Mr. C. J. Tanks, and the secretary-mana-ger, Mr. S. E. Langstone, and all connected with the-association and brigado of the Auckland Province upon the admirable standard of efficiency in existence and upon tho possession of, in all probability, the finest ambulance headquarters in tho Empire. The splendid spirit of St. John service I have found in existence reflects most creditably upon all members of the order, the association and brigade, and also upon the municipality and citizens of Auckland." Maintaining High Standard Tho last year ended with a debit balance, and at least £3OOO is needed to enable the work to be carried on as it has been, without anything being paid olf the overdraft. The ambulance service has become so vital a link in tbo life of the city that much of its work is familiar to all. but others of its many-sided activities are not so widely known. The value of having l'ully-equipped and expertly-manned ambulances at call at any hour of the day or night is, of course, obvious, livery call is answered, and no request for payment is made until after the service has been rendered. If people can pay anything toward tho cost they do so, but in many cases they cannot, and over 50 per cent of the work is done free. Last year 85,820 miles were covered and 10/109 patients were carried, while first aid was rendered in 5027 cases on the wharves. There is an urgent need for another ambulance to replace one that has seen a great deal of service. There are nine ambulances in the city and 23 in the Auckland district. Two Extensive Branches

The cheerful and ever-present assistance of the St. John Ambulance at sports grounds and all public functions is a side of the undertaking familiar to everyone. Another side of the work is the giving of training in first aid, homo nursing .and hygiene. One of the most extensive branches is the district nursing service. Five fully trained, State registered nurses are available to visit tho homes of poorer people and render assistance in cases of sickness. Last year, 14,249 visits were paid to patients in their homes, involving 23,136 miles of travel, while there were 5038 attendances at the out-patients' clinic at the ambulance station. To enable the nurses to attend to the cases, the provision of two small cars and two tram passes is necessary. , Cost ol Nursing Work

Where further advice is needed, the nurses call in ono of the honorary medical staff. Additional comforts provided include firing, clothes, invalid food, dressings, bedding and beds where necessary. Ambulance sisters regularly attend church clinics and kindergartens and conduct several sewing guilds at the ambulance station for the district nurses and charitable institutions. Tho maintenance of the nursing work costs over £IOO a month, but the only assistance received is a subsidy of £IOO a year from the Hospital Board. Still another useful service is tho supply of medical comforts, such as invalid chains, crutches, bed rests and the like, which few people can afford to buy, to be used during a temporary disability, but which are nevertheless essential at times. A. wide range of these can be lent from the station, and here again over 50 per cent of the service has to be provided free. Ono of the latest undertakings is a blood transfusion service, under which the St. John Ambulance will supply blood donors from an organisation it has prepared. A number of calls have been made, and already it has been the means of saving life. The whole of this work is undertaken without any claim on the Government for aid.