Every one in the commonwealth countries know something about ‘St John's' but did you know that it was started way back before 1095, before the First Crusade to the Holy Land? The Crusaders founded a hospice which was known as the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem which was run by a group of monks. In 1113, the pope gave recognition to this special group of people and The Order became an independent religious order of monks and nuns and it was their special task to care for the sick. It was incorporated by Royal Charter of Queen Victoria in 1888, with the Queen as Sovereign Head of the Order. This Royal Charter also established St John as a royal order of chivalry
Today, The St John Eye Hospital in Jerusalem is still financially supported by the New Zealand priories who also recruit doctors and nurses to serve there. The hospital performs approximately 5000 major eye surgeries per year and it also treats 50,000 outpatients. There is a facility for research as well as to train the postgraduate doctors and nurses.
In New Zealand St John provides much help in the community and has a very large network of supporters. They provide ambulance services for approximately 85% of New Zealand 's population. The statistics for the 2004-2005 year showed that they attended 269,163 emergency calls and they treated 300,556 patients in the same year. There were 2200 volunteer ambulance officers and only 700 who were on the payroll. Every year, the ambulance officers of St John care for and save the lives of New Zealanders and visitors to the country. St John operates seven days a week and is available 24 hours a day.
The community events that St John volunteers had attended between July 2004 – 30 June 2005 was 6,282. This truly shows the concern and care that New Zealanders have towards their fellow man. It is this community spirit that allows this organization to carry on its great work. They are leaders in our community and offer support to the people working in our neighbourhoods as well as those people who live here.
St John can provide highly trained staff capable of providing care in the event of almost any emergency or first aid situation. It might be a local rugby game, a rock concert, a sports event, or a large public gathering - whatever the occasion you can book your event with St John electronically, please fill in the following form and submit to events@stjohn.org.nz.
Mission Statement of St Johns (New Zealand)
St John's mission is to prevent and relieve sickness and injury, and to act to enhance the health and well-being of people of all races and creeds anywhere in New Zealand .
