St. John Ambulance Spends Active Year

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 362, 24 May 1928, Page 16

St. John Ambulance Spends Active Year

EFFICIENCY IN FIRST AID FREE TREATMENT TO POOR Definite strides towards complete , efficiency in the care of the sick and injured have been made by the Auckland Centre of the St. John Ambulance Association during the past year. The 36th annual report of the activities of the institution provides gratifying proof of the splendid community service given. A fleet of four ambulances now belongs to the transport service. Luring the year, which will be reviewed at the association’s annual meeting on May 30, 1,440 pupils attended the first aid and home nursing lectures, the majority of them gaining the association’s certificates. Aailwaymen had taken up the lectures enthusiastically and ultimate public benefit was anticipated. “The work of the ambulance transport S€:rvice again shows a very satisfactory increase,” the report says, “the number of cases having been, 1,323 and the distance travelled 10,578 miles, compared with 998 cases and 6,804 miles in the previous year. The transport officers have rendered first aid to 3,187 patients at the wharf ambulance station, an increase of 990 cases. “The service is greatly appreciated by members of the Waterside Workers’ Union and others employed on the wharves and in their vicinity. “During the year another up-to-date ambulance has been built for the association, which now has four splendid carriages, fitted with everything essential for the comfort and well-being of those who are sick or injured. Several long distance journeys have been made most satisfactorily, in one instance the distance travelled having been over 500 miles. “Though a small charge is made, and is gladly paid by those who are in a position to do so, every call is promptly responded to, without any question of payment being raised, and poor people are not asked to pay.” The report adds that a funds raising campaign had realised, £1,342 12s 4d net. During the year the capital fund was augmented by a legacy of £IOO from the late Sir Henry Brett and sundry donations and accrued interest. The amount to credit was £517, being £SOO in Government, City Council and Hospital Board debentures, and bank balance of £l7.