AMBULANCE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1098, 10 April 1911, Page 3

AMBULANCE.

THE ST. JOHN BRIGADE,

TEAR'S OPERATIONS.

The St. John Ambulance Brigade, although not identical with the St. John Ambulance Association, is closely allied with it. The annual report of the New Zealand branch of the brigade for the year 1910 gives some interesting particulars with respect to tho work which is being carried on by tho organisation.

Officers and Membership. The ■Wellington district of the brigade is under the charge of Mr. 11. 11. Seed, and !ie i\a* associated with him Dr. Henry as district chief surgeon, ami Messrs. llepworlh (I'alincrstou' Novth), Donald (Mastcrfon), Brine ' (Wanganui), and Archer (Napier). There aro ambulance and nursing divisions in existence in Wellington, Petoiv, Masterton, Napier, I'almorstoi- North, Wanganui, and Hawera, while there are a number of places where units might with advantage be organised. There are now VI corps and divisions on the roll of the brigade, and the membership has attained to 1186. At Wellington the various city aud suburban divisions have been organised into the Wellington corps, and corps staff appointed—a step which has already resulted in benefit to the divisions concerned. It is hoped to establish nursing divisions at Napier and Wanganui during the forthcoming year. Case: Attended, The annual returns forwarded by divisions show that the number of iirst-aid cases attended to on public duty was 58S as against 355 for the previous year. The number ot removals was 251, against 150 for the previous year. The number of cases o£ first aid attended, not on public duty, was 878, as against Cl 7 for the previous year. The number of cases nursed privately by members of nursing divisions was 3G3, as against 97 for 1909, the largest numbei being supplied by Palmerston North nursing division As shoving the advance which has been made in the various branches of work carried out by the brigade in New Zealand during the past five years, the following figures are of interest: — 190G 1909 1910 First aid cases attended to on public duty 37 385 588 Removal of patients 41 150 251 First aid cases attended to not on public duty... 107 Gl7 Bi7 Cases nursed privately ... 21 97•• 363 It may bo mentioned that there are 77 members of.the medical profession enrolled and acting as district chief surgeons, chief surgeons, and honorary surgeons to the brigade.

Appointments. During the past year thn following: appointments have keen made by the Grand Priory of the Order of St. John ill recognition of services rendered in the cause of ambulance work:—His. S. A. Rhodes, president of the Wellington Nursing Division, to be Lady of Grace; Miss J. D. Hoooqr, lady superintendent of tho Dunedin "Nursing Division, to be Honorary Serving Sister; District Chief Superintendent Bono (Dunedin), and District Chief Superintendent Lindsay (Christchurch), to bo Honorary Serving Brothers: Dr. H. 11. Inglis, District Cliief Surgeon (Christahurch), to bo Honorary Associate. Certificates for five years' service had been awarded as follow:— Wellington Nursing Division—Mrs. S. A. Rhodes (president), Mrs. E. Balcombe-Brown.and Mrs. W. H. S. Moorhouse (vice-presi-dents), Mrs. S. H. Fisher (lady superintendent), Mrs. M. H. Pearson, Misses M. E. Robicson. M. Pnwles, E. A. Carroll, E. HelyoT, I. S. Wilson, Rev. Mother Mary Aubert, Sisters Mary Agnes. Mary Mnrcelle, "Mary Veronica, Mary Salome, •Mary Jeanne, "Jlnrv Chanel, Mary Elizabeth, Mary Alplionsus. Mary Anthony, Jfesdames K. Preston, 11. 0. M'Whannell, •Nurse A. Soston. Enterprise of Divisions. A considerable amount o£ enterprise lias been shown by a number of divisions during the ' year. As the result of n bazaar organised by the two divisions at Masterton, a sum of .£350 was raised for tho District Nurses' Fund. The ambulanco brougham recently provided by these divisions is also doing good work and members frequently'assist with transport duty. At Napier the local division .held an Ambulance Saturday collection, and obtained .£33 ss. Gd. for the purchase of ambulance appliances for the town. The District Nursing scheme in which the Palmerston North Division took tho initiative, has been brought Jo a successful issue, and since tho appointment of the district nurse sonio GOO visits have been paid. The Petone Division raised funds for the purchase of an ambulance wagon, and has also had the brigade station enlarged to provide the necessary accommodation for "same. A public gathering took place, when the- wagon was formally handed over for the use of the town and district. The members of the Wellington Nursing Division assisted in the holding of a large bazaar in aid of the St. John Ambulance Nursing Guild. The bazaar was most successful.