MEDICAL UNITS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 05, Issue 66, 17 June 1942, Page 5

MEDICAL UNITS

E.P.S. PREPARATIONS THE RANGITAIKI AREA At the meeting of district E.P.S.O. Wardens coA T ering the Rangitaiki Area, last Monday the following points Avere made in the Deputy Controllers statement, relative to , the Medical Units operating throughout the district:— Aid posts are situated in, the following localities: Waimana, Tane- • atua, Te Teko, Edgecumbe. Matata. ; Wainui, ManaAvahe, Galatea, Ohope, • Te Whaiti and Waiohau. I ha\ r e . not particulars as to bed accommo- i dation at each of the aid posts. The i medical unit has a county personnel i of about 320. First aid classes have < been held or are being held in all ( districts with the exception of Galatea and Te Whaiti. 181 persons hold first aid certificates. Instruction Avas given at most of the classes by Mr Garling and Mrs Macplierson has instructed the Manawahe classes. It is not proposed to hold classes at Waiohau but AAiien circumstances permit classes will be held at Galatea, to which Te Whaiti residents Avill be invited. Home nursing classes are also being held in Edgecumbe, Taneatua and Waimana districts, and a series of first aid lectures arc being given now to all E.P.S. units in the Edgecumbe district. Medical supplies have been issued at all districts with the exception of Wainui. The Wainui district Avas recently constituted and Dr. Appleby has under way the making up of the Wainui medical kit. Hospital supplies have been delivered to all districts with the exception of Wainui, Te Whaiti and Waihou, and proAdsion of supplies for these three districts is receiving attention. Splints and stretchers haA T e been delivered to all districts Avith the exception of Wainui, which has yet to be supplied with stretchers. Two such are on order. This organisation is indebted to Dr. Appleby for the assistance he has given in having made up at his clinic the medical and hospital kits for all districts; Base Hospital Supplies Recently an inspection Avas made of the base hospital supplies at Hopkirk's and the Paper Mills Plantation, and such supplies are in good condition. As circumstances permit, Dr. DaAA-son states it is his intention to include with such supplies a set of instruments. Supplementary Medifcal Supplies A circular has been received from the Director, National Service Department, which states that hereafter application for medical sup- j plies must be approved by the Medical Controller and then forAvarded to the Controller of Medical Supplies, Department of Health, Wellington, for final approval. This means that Dr. Appleby Avill in the first place approve all applications for medical supplies and any schedules approved by him avi 11 be able to purchase only Avhen the Wellington Commissioner so authorises. Rangitaiki Medical Warden's' Report As an illustration of the enormous amount of organisation necessary to assure that in the event of an emergency the medical unit in each area would "Avork," a copy of the excellent report prepared by the MedWard. S. G. Spence, Rangitaiki district Avas circulated to the ten districts. Health Department Advice has been receiA'ed from the Medical Officer of Health, Gisborne, to the effect that district nurses are attached to the Health Precautions Scheme and cannot be attached to the Medical Unit of this organisation. Similar!}*- such appears to be the position of Dr. Maaka Avho Avas a member of the Executive hitherto and Medical Warden of the Taneatua district. Ohope An application dated Bth June has been received from Warden Doavling, Ohope, asking for authority to purchase the folloAAing: 12 yards unbleached calico for bandages, 24 yards of pyjama cloth for men's, women's and children's pyjamas,-and o yards of gauze for dressing.