V.A.D.'s NEEDED

Taranaki Daily News, 12 September 1940, Page 8

V.A.D.'s NEEDED

CERTIFICATES ISSUED

Three voluntary aid detachments were originally aimed at at New Plymouth, but the response had not been as good as hoped for, said Dr. C. A. Taylor, medical superintendent of the New Plymouth hospital, last night when certificates were presented by Sister Dew to 43 V.A.D.'s who had served their first 60 hours' training in the hospital. Dr. Taylor suggested that to meet a possible emergency on a properly organised basis eight detachments of 20 members each Were required at New Plymouth and one each at Opunake, Waitara and Inglewood. Thirty-four members for a new group were enrolled 'at the conclusion of the presentation ceremony, which took place in the nurses' memorial hall. Before the gathering, presided over by Mr. P. E. Stainton, chairman of the board, the V.A.D.'s in their smart uniforms were paraded for inspection by Col. F. W. W. Dawson, accompanied by Mrs. C. A. Taylor, commandant, Sister Dew, adjutant, Mr. Stainton, and Mr. R. A. Wall, St. John Ambulance Association. High Standard of Work. Afterwards Colonel Dawson said he was very pleased with the high standard of the detachment's work. The only fault he could find was that there were not enough of them. It was one of the finest examples of war work, he said. Anyone realising what was going on in England to-day would know that it was not the soldier who was getting the heavy end of the stick, but the civilians, particularly women and children. They might not have bombs in New Zealand, but there might be sickness. It was essential for them to be prepared for an emergency. He would like to see 200 trained V.A.D.'s at New Plymouth. Congratulations to the V.A.D.'s on their work were expressed by Mr. Stainton. He welcomed Mrs. Vickery, Waitara, who had set a fine example by starting the movement in her district. Mrs. Taylor and those associated with her deserved thanks for what they had done. The V.A.D.'s had the satisfaction of knowing that they were doing something really worthwhile and he hoped they would all act as recruiting agents. Lagged Beliind. Wellington authorities were very keen to develop the voluntary aid detachment movement, said Dr. Taylor, but judging by what was being done in some other centres, New Plymouth lagged behind. If there was a considerable number of casualties or sick cases it would be no good calling for nursing volunteers unless they were already trained. Without voluntary staffs in hospitals near military camps, work devolving on them could not have been done. AtNew Plymouth V.A.D.'s had done good work during the outbreak of influenza at the flying school, but more trainees were required yet in preparation for organisation that might be required. Using the 1918 influenza epidemic as an example, Dr. Taylor said that volunteer cooks and laundresses were required as well as nursing aids and a V.A.D. scheme had been arranged to give them 40 hours' instruction a year and thus make them familiar with large cooking and laundry units and efficient in doing mass work of the kind. Many a housewife who was a good cook would find herself at a loss if asked to produce a meal for a lai-ge establishment. It was the same with laundering and it was therefore hoped that women would volunteer. Male Portering. Male portering was another department of hospital work for which recruits were required. Members of the St. John Ambulance Association and the Home Guard had offered to form detachments for training in the duties of male nurses and they would serve 60 hours annually. Dr. Taylor explained the organisation of the Voluntary Aid Detachment and mentioned a suggestion to facilitate the training of country volunteers by holding a course of 10 days. Miss B. A. Campbell, matron, who was unable to be present, sent a letter acknowledging the good work of Mrs. Taylor as commandant and Sister Dew as adjutant. Mrs. Taylor reported that with the completion of the training of the second detachment there was now a joint membership of 56 fully trained members. Of these five had resigned to train as pupil nurses, five more were on the permanent paid aide staff and six were school teachers who could not be called on except for a major emergency, when the schools would be closed. That brought the total personnel she could rely on to | 40, which was much below the estimated strength. She was aisappointed that more had not offered to train. After the Ven. Archdeacon G. H. Gavin h.-.:l given an address on community service supper was served.