EMERGENCY HOSPITALS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 June 1941, Page 2

EMERGENCY HOSPITALS

QUESTION OF STAFFING. DISCUSSED BY WOMEN’S ORGANISATIONS. Yesterday the Masterton sub-centre of the Red Cross Society, acting as an auxiliary of the Army Medical and Public Health services, called a meeting of all the women's organisations having representation on the Masterton sub-centre of the Red Cross Society, to discuss the question of the staffing ol emergency hospitals in Masterton with a domestic staff should the necessity for establishing such hospitals suddenly arise. The following organisations'were represented at the meeting: Maslerton sub-centre of the Red Cross Society, Country Districts Red Cross Society. St. John Ambulance. Girl Guides, Methodist Ladies’ Guild. Women's Auxiliary of the Labour Party, Mothers’ League, Women's Auxiliary of the Y.M.C.A., Townswomen’s Guild, Federation of Women's Institutes, St. Vincent de Paul Society, W.C.T.U., Women's Auxiliary of the National Party, League of Nations Union. Women’s National Welfare. Apologies for absence were received from Mrs Gawith. Miss Kummer. Mrs R. Miller and Mrs Barrer.

A letter from Mr Lee. group officer No. 4 Group Emergency Hospital Organisation. was read in which was stated the need of organising a domestic staff to be available immediately should a temporary hospital have to be established in order that this side of the work should be carried on until such time as a permanent staff could be obtained Suggestions as to the numbers required for staffing and the hours which shifts would work wore supplied to the meeting, and representatives were asked to place these before their various organisations to be dis l cussed by them. Further suggestions were asked for.

Mrs Stewart, V.A. Commandant, spoke of the training that was available through the St. John Ambulance and the Red Cross Society for what is known as kitchen aids. These train-* ees, she said, would do 40 hours training at the Masterton Hospital in either kitchen or laundry work, and though this training would not be absolutely essential to those assisting with the domestic work in an emergency hospital, it would certainly be of the greatest value. Those willing to help, she said, would be wise to avail themselves of this training. Mrs D. McKenzie and Miss Elliott, both of who had taken this training, gave particulars of the work to the meeting. A. further meeting has been called for 'Wednesday, July 2. at 2.30 p.m. in the Red Cross Society’s room, when representatives from the various organisations will appoint a small committee which will take charge of the organisation in connection with this work.