NO AMBULANCE!

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2881, 20 September 1916, Page 6

NO AMBULANCE!

A STRANGE POSITION

ST. JOHN AMBULANCE GIVES UP x BUSINESS "PEOPLE WILL NOT PAY" In yesterday's Dominion appeared an announcement to the effect that at the present timo the Empiro City is entirely without tho services of an ambulance van of any kind, and that (on tho testimony of a leading doctor) nono would be available, were any accident, however serious, to occur. It was related that no answer could be gained by telephotw at the St. John Ambulance office (at 5.40 p.m.), and a ring to the ambulance car number elicited the infprmation that no ambulance vehicle was now available at that number. Further inquiry into the matter was mado yesterday. Tho first gentleman seen was Mr. J. B, "Findlay, secretary of the St. John Ambulance Association in Wellington. He stated quite frankly that the association had decided about six weeks ago to give up running tho ambulance van for several reasons, the chief of which was that it did not pay, because, mainly, of the difficulty in getting its users to pay for it. Mr. Findlay explained that their ambulance was an out-of-date horse-drawn van, which had to bo kept at stables, so that it could be got out as quickly as possible. It had been kept in Johnston's stables in Barker Street, but when Mr. Johnston's estate was assigned a few weeks ago, it was decided not to keep tho ambulance van in commission any longer. To show how much had been lost on. the running of tho van, Mr. Findlay quoted from his books. In the year 1912-13, tho loss was £51 18s.; in 1913-14, £53; in 1914-15, £53; and in 1915-16, no less than £114. That was owing to tho rise in the price of everything, and the falling off in engagements. It was explained'that the association contracted to pay Mr. Johnston for every "turn-out," irrespective of whether they were paid by users of the van. In previous years tho association had managed to meet the deficiency out of funds generously subscribed by citizens privately or on Ambulance Day, hut since the war broke out nearly all the funds have been subscribed for war work, not for local work. Then on top of that tho Wellington Hospital had a motor ambulance, against which their horse-drawn ambulance could not compete. Tho decision, to take the van out of commission was arrived at during a meeting of the branch held on August 4, when it was resolved:— "That in view of the fact that motor ambulances are now Tim by the Hospital Board, rendering our work superfluous, your committee recommends:— "(1) That tho transport service of tho association be discontinued forthwith. "(2) That the Hospital Board bo notified of the same. "(3) That the various sub-centres in the smaller towns be approached with a view to disposing of the vehicle." Mr. Findlay added that as tho ambulance service was for the'benefit of all, no was of the opinion that there should be/ a municipal, ambulance motor or motors, and the suggestion that such a. vehicle should be kept at tho Fire Brigado Station was an excellent one, as the van could always bo kept in order, and there would bo men who knew tho rudiments of ambulance work ready at all hours of the day and night to man it. This was all tho moro necessary, as the Hospital Board only had ono ambulance car, and it was always being used for infectious cases, which was not very desirable, even though the ear was disinfected. Ono of the drawbacks experienced _by the St. John Ambulance Association was that owing to having to keep their van at public stables men were sent out with it who knew nothing about ambulance work or handling a siek person, and the results were not always quite as satisfactory as tho association would wish. Second Motor Wanted. Mr. 11. Baldwin, chairman of the Wellington Hospital and Charitablo'Aid Board, was consulted regarding the question, which he, in tho ■ interests of humanity, considers a very vital one. "There was a bushfeller_ at Stokes Valley hurt early one morning—a tree had fallen on him, and Dr. Hector, who attended to him, ordered his instant removal to tho Wellington Hospital," related Mr.; Baldwin. ".That was at 8.30 in tho' morning. Ho reached tho Hospital at 5 o'clock that evening. Two girls at tho Upper Hutt contracted diphtheria, and were ordored to the Hospital. They did not reach the Hospital until after 5 o'clock. Tho doctor said that in another two hours ono of the girls would have been dead. It was incidents like that which brought about tho existenco of tho motor ambulance in connection, with the Hospital. Primarily it was to bring patients in from tho suburbs as quickly as possible, and so obviate tho necessity for a cottago hospital, then, four years ago, being agitated for. That, and to transfer cases of infectious disease. "I'm not sorry this question has triseii," said Mr. Baldwin. "Tho question is one which had to be faced, and tho sooner it is dono the better. I say that it is the duty of tho municipal authorities to provido motor ambulances, and I used to advocate that at'one time, but in view of tho fact that of the 105,000 people wo havo to serve, 80,000 aro in the City of Wellington, we—the. Hospital Board—may bo said to represent tho City, and as such should provido motor ambulances. At one time I considered it tho work of tho St. John Ambulance, but never 6Uico they obtained thoir first horse ambulance has there been any forward movement on their part, and the work has not been done very satisfactorily, so our motor ambulance has drifted into general use, and last month carried no fewer than 53 patients. We were notified by tho association of their intention to get out of the business, but, seeing the danger, we deputationised them, asking if they would keep on if the board subsidised them, birt even then they seemed disinclined to continue the work, and under the conditions they havo had to work I don't blanio them. "As to our motor, it broke down on the Packakariki Hill last Saturday night whilst convoying a patient and nurse to town, and as tho result of a faulty magneto the car had to bo towed into Wellington as quickly as possiblo in. the interests of the patient. It arrived at 3 o'clock on Sunday morning. The tow cost us £10. The car will bo ready again for work this morning, I hope. "I think we should have a seoond motor ambulance, in order to prevent any such trouble, and I agree with the suggestion that a motor ambulance similar to those used by the Defence people might be kept as a standby at tho Central Fire Brigado Station, where a number of the men can drive, and all have an elementary knowledge of first aid." It is understood that tho St. John Ambulance Association has deoided to offer its two ambulanco vans to the j Hospital authorities,