CARE OF THE SICK

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 05, Issue 83, 27 July 1942, Page 4

CARE OF THE SICK

WORK OF VOLUNTARY AIDS

LADY SUPERINTENDENT'S VISIT

A meeting of widespread interest among those connected with the St. John Ambulance and the Voluntary Aid movement took place in the Methodist Hall, Whakatane', recently. The speakers were Mrs S. G. Miller, Lady Dominion Superintendent of V.A.'s, and Miss Orr, Auckland' Provincial Commandant of St. John V.A.'s.

Welcoming the visitors Miss Tait, Division Superintendent of the Whakatane branch of St. John Nursing Division, regretted that owing to the weather, several ladies from the country districts, had been unable to come to the meeting. Apologiesi were received from Taneatua and Waimana.

Mrs Miller in her address said that after the Army, Navy and Air Force, Voluntary Aids were most essential and both the Red Cross and St. John were doing their best to train as many V.A.'s as possible. At present in the cities many V.A.'s had been called t.o duty at Emergency Hospitals lo assist with cases of seasonable troubles. At the Rotorua Soldiers' Convalescent Hospital the Voluntary Aids were doing a wonderful job and the conditions were splendid. Method of Training In an emergency the first duty of the trained V.A, was. to. the Matron of the hospital. The V.A.'s were then sent to casualEy posts. In some centres V.A.'s were trained under the Joint Control of the Red Cross and St. John and this had proved most satisfactory, New Plymouth being a good example of this where 270 have been trained undei one commandant. Two hundred and girls have been sent frc.m the Joint Societies overseas, under the W.W.S.A Emergency Hospital and the girls were willing to tackle anything. Reinforcements for overseas are ready when the call came. Particulars as to the uniform worn by the girls overseas and on hospital ship were given. The age for this section being 25 to 34. Classed as Essential Voluntary Aids were now classcd as essential, and' some of the recent age groups were being sent to hospitals. to train as V.A.'s. If called upon V.A.'s were now required to do one month's duty, ?o those taking hospital training needed to bo sure that they could be released' for duty when required. Compulsion could be used once V.A.'s were trained. The St. John and Red' Cross were the. only organisations throughout the wo'rld authorised to train Voluntary Aids, to nurse soldiers. The W.W.S.A. could train Obst relic V.A.'s and Wellington, Dunedin and Christchurch had all a band of these, who are very keen and interested in the work.

It was often very difficult said Mrs Miller, for country girls to get accommodation -while doing their hospital training, and here was a

chance for older women and Brigade members to assist. In Rotorua i a Maori section had been stared uni tder Guide Rangi and the girls were very keen. Miss Orr spoke of work organ is-, ing the V.A.'s in Auckland which had. grown to such tremendous proportions that other registered nurses were assisting in the work. After doing their hospital training which usually takes a week from 8.30 to 5.30 p. m., the V. A.'s must attend group meetings. In Auckland centre the girls had physical culture once a fortnight to keep fit. Questions on Voluntary Aid and Nursing Division work were then asked. Dr F. .T. Applebjr Division Surgeon attended the meeting for a short time and apologised for not having been able to attend more of the Division meetings as he had been very busy, but nevertheless he was very interested in the St. John work. A dainty supper was served by members of the St. John Nursing Division. Aj y.Gte of thanks to Mrs Mtillei and Miss Orr was moved by Nurse McKay (Taneatua) and carried .by acclamation.