PUBLIC SERVICE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23178, 26 October 1938, Page 15

PUBLIC SERVICE

ST. JOHN AMBULANCE RECORD OF ACHIEVEMENT ANNUAL APPEAL ON FRIDAY A record in essential public service has been achieved during the past year by the St. John Ambulance Association in Auckland. The fleet of ambulances has covered nearly 100,000 miles in transporting patients, and every demand made upon the organisation has been met with efficiency and promptness.

Increased service to the people of Auckland has been given willingly and without stint. In the past 12 months the public has had at its disposal, day or night, week-day or holiday, an organisation with a proud record of achievement, and on Friday, when the St. John Ambulance annual street appeal will be made, an opportunity will occur of making tangible recognition of the humane and essential work so faithfully done. Extension of its services, coupled with the effects of recent legislation, have involved the organisation in heavy additional expenditure, and a generous public response to the appeal on Fjriday is confidently anticipated. Funds are urgently needed to carry on the work of an essential public service, and it is hoped that as has been the case in the past the public of Auckland will rise to the occasion. Transport and Brigade

Best known to the public among the p;any ramifications of St. John Ambulance work are the transport and brigade departments. A total of 11,564 patients was carried in the 10 ambulances during the past year, and the machines ran 95,659 miles. In addition, members of the transport staff attended to 5938 cases of injury on the wharves. One of the most substantial increases in the costs of the organisation has resulted from the doubling of the wages bill. No wages are paid to the volunteer workers who attend 65 sports grounds each Saturday. A sum of £7OO from the last street collection and annual appeal was granted, however, to enable the volunteers to obtain uniforms and supplies, an indication that although brigade members give their time willingly and without cost, the service is not cheap to maintain. St. John Ambulance Brigade workers are prominent not only at sports grounds, but at any public gathering where there is a remote possibility of their services being required. They attend race meetings, picnics, kindergartens, missions, processions and even some of the more popular beaches, waiting patiently to serve others.

Varied Activities In addition to the ambulance transport section there is the district nursing service, and this department also was ke)A working at full capacity last year. The nurses travelled 30,000 miles in their small cars, and visited 14,249 patients in their homes. Also 3226 patients were interviewed and treated at the clinic at the ambulance station in Rutland Street. A record for New Zealand has been set by the blood transfusion service, donors having been called upon at the rate of almost one a day to give their blood to help some victim of accident or disease. A total of 311 members gave blood at various hospitals, thus assisting materially in saving life. While carrying on and extending its many and varied enterprises the association has not neglected the training of men and women and boys and girls in first-aid and home nursing during the year. Altogether 1747 candidates were trained and examined and the large proportion who qualified will be available to extend still further the work of the organisation.