V.A.D. TRAINING

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20065, 11 October 1939, Page 4

V.A.D. TRAINING

WORK AT HOSPITAL EMERGENCY SERVICES KEEN GROUP OF WOMEN THREE MONTHS’ COURSE Recruited from the classes conducted in first aid and home nursing by the St. John Ambulance Association and the Red Cross Nursing Division, a group of 20 keen young women holding first aid and homo nursing certificates have been nominated for special V.A.D. training, and last week commenced the special course at the Cook Hospital. The object of this training is to provide a reserve of women capable of taking up duty in the event of emergency arising, such as might be caused by a national disaster or by he drain of the war upon nursing staffs in public hospitals. Transport to the hospital is arranged for the class, which will attend each Thursday night for several weeks for lectures, and on Fridays and Saturdays for practical demonstrations in the wards. The general supervision of the class is under Dr. R. J. B. Hall, medical superintendent, but the lecturing and practical demonstrations are carried on by the lady superintendent, the tutor sisters and the general nursing staff of the hospital. Every member of the class has shown much keenness to qualify for the V.A.D. certificate which will be awarded to those completing the course and passing an examination; and those who have the training of the group in hand are also most enthusiastic. The nursing staff at the hospital has undertaken voluntarily the special work of training the group. Almost all the young women now engagec in preparing for the examinal'on are business women, with a small sprinkling of country residents. They have been selected with a view to keeping the group intact until the completion of the course, and each nas undertaken t' attend for at least four hours a week for instruction.