DOCTORS TAKING FIRM STAND

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 36, 6 November 1943, Page 4

DOCTORS TAKING FIRM STAND

Certificates For Rationed Commodities NUMEROUS APPLICANTS “Cream, brandy, honey and hotwater (bottles are things for which a section of the public is pursuing the doctors,” said a leading Wellington general practitioner yesterday when referring to the issue of medical certificates which give access to some rationed commodities. The medical profession generally is stated to be taking up a firm attitude in dealing with their issue. ~ Immediately a rationing or prohibition of supplies is introduced,, it is stated, urgent and often specious representations are made to the doctors to allow the applicants a greater share than somebody else. They are likely to be singularly unsuccessful in Wellington. There has, for instance, been more than a suspicion in the past that some people were obtaining on certificate more eggs than were really good for them. It seems certain that the medical profession is not going to allow them to make themselves ill on cream. There had been numerous applications, whether legitimate or not he did not know, for cream certificates by people who claimed that they were on special diets, said a doctor yesterday. Brandy had been in demand through other applications, but that had been eliminated recently. Some medical men were issuing cream certificates only in cases which came under their personal notice, and where they considered a supply of cream was warranted. Another doctor said a great deal of the demand came from old people who were unable to eat meat. No certificates were being issued except where soundly justified. Whisky and brandy had been sought by patients, but were difficult to obtain on prescription, because hotels preferred to sell to their own clients in small nips rather than make available an Boz. bottle to chemists. There had been attempts by some, people to abuse the privilege of obtaining spirits by medical certificate. There were no grounds for believing that people were endeavouring to circumvent the prohibition on cream by applying for medical certificates, said another doctor’with a large general practice. He found that the only people seeking them were on special diets which required cream. Numbers of medical certificates for the supply of cream or butter (in excess of the rationed amount) have reached the Wellington municipal milk department. They are not as numerous as had been expected, but it is considered a little early yet to assess the position in this respect, as most people are only just now beginning to feel the pinch after a liberality of these commodities.

DOCTORS BESIEGED

AUCKLAND EXPERIENCES (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, November 5. Medical practitioners in Auckland are finding the demand for certificates by people seeking extra rations of butter and cream so large Jhat it is imposing a heavy burden on an already overworked profession. Doctors are complaining about the lack of proper directions by the Government, and also are beginning to wonder when an end will come to the variety of certificates which they are expected to issue. “All this extra work has brought me to the point where I feel like refusing to give any more certificates,” said one doctor. “It might not be so bad if we had some assistance from the Government, but this has not been forthcoming so far in the case of butter and cream. “Neither doctors nor the rationing officers from whom I have made inquiries know what we are required to do. The Government should have asked the Health Department to give us some directions as to what illnesses it considered necessitated extra cream or butter, and what amounts we should specify. Personally. I am specifying 10 ounces of cream and eight ounces of butter extra in each case where I think it advisable, hut other doctors whose opinions might differ from mine may specify more or none at all for the same complaints. “There should have been no need for this muddle over certificates, many of which have been returned by rationing officers because they do not specify certain things.” he continued. “The Government should have known better than to foist this duty on usfwithout instructions, particularly after its experience with egg rationing.” , ~ , , , The president of the Auckland branch of the British Medical Association, Dr. E. J. Cronin, said he had conferred With the Minister of Health, Mr. Nordmeyer, regarding butter and cream certificates. The Minister had promised to give the matler his attention. The chief, complaints of the profession were that it had not been consulted before being asked to issue certificates, that it had had no notification or directions how to proceed, that it received no credit for what.-it did and that no assistance bad been given by the provision of special forms which could; be filled in expeditiously. The four mam classes of patients needing extra cream and butter were those ■suffering; from tuberculosis, diabetes, malnutrition and o*u he said. Doctors wore, however; being besieged by large numbers of people who thought, they should be having extra rations. Some of these, had at one time or- another needed special diet and still believed tltov should have it, (hough the need for it had passed. There were others who would actually be in much better health if they ate less btuter and tlrami le'ss cream.'