RETURNED SOLDIERS

Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 23, 26 January 1918, Page 9

RETURNED SOLDIERS

TREATMENT OF SICK AND

WOUNDED

A statement was made yesterday by the Hon. G. W. Russell, Minister of Public Health, regarding the treatment of returned eick and wounded soldiers.

"Since the National Government was formed," said Mr. Russell, "the treatment of sick and wounded soldiers has, by decision of Cabinet, been placed under the control of the Minister of Public Health. The policy which was laid down when I took office hae been systematically carried out. These are the main features of the system. "In every case where practicable a returned soldier is placed in that hospital or institution whiph ie nearest to his home, provided it k efficient for the treatment of his case. The civilian hospitals of the Dominion were cheerfully placed at the disposal of the Government for this purpose by the respective hospital boards, and excellent work has been done. Fullyequipped convalescent homes have been established at Rotorua and Hanmer. At Rotorua there have been concentrated chiefly North Island soldiers, and those in particular from all parts of New Zealand whose cases required the high electric massage and bath treatment; for which Rotorua is famous. Hanmer has been employed more for neurasthenic and shellshock casee, and the climate anu surroundings of this hospital have brought about many remarkable cures. At the convalescent homes the average stay of the soldier has been about six weeks.

"In addition to these main institutions the existing Rotorua hospital' has been largely increased and added to, and also an infectious diseases hospital has been erected, so that the hospital at Rotorua is now practically capable of accommodating one hundred patients. In addition to these institutions there have been other subsidiary convalescent homes established, one at Devonport and one at Lowry Bay. For the treatment of ■consumptive soldiers Te Waikato sanatorium has been entirely set apart, the female patients having been removed to Otaki. The necessity for another consumptive institution for returned soldiers has already become evident, and enquiries are now being made with regard to the establishment of another institution in a suitable locality. It is being found that fhe number of men requiring; treatment for tubercular diseases is considerable. Many of the men develop the disease after they return to the Dominion. There are also two institutions for the treatment of mental patients, one at Karitane, near the Seaclifi Asylum, and one near the Avondale Mental Hospital. Remarkable cures have been effected at both of these institutions.

" Such are the methods by which the Department works. Many thousands of men have passed through the institutions, and the success of the scheme has been most pronounced. I am thankful to say that the total number of death* in hospitals, or after treatment in hospitals, has been less than 100. This is a record of which the Health Department may feel justly proud. I am able to point with some satisfaction to. the fact that neither in Parliament nor in the press of the Dominion has there been one word of criticism regarding the treatment of sick and wounded soldiers under the administration of the Department I have the honour to control. And the cost of this great service has been in every way economical. No special doctors have been required. The whole work at Rotorua, where at last advices there were 227 soldiers and discharged men. under treatment, has been conducted by the Tourist Officer, Dr. Herbert, and by the Public Health Officer, Dr. Swanston. At Hanmer, one medical officer, Dr. Hendry, has performed all the work. At all the other hospitals the medical service has been performed by the ordinary . staff. A consolidated payment is made per week to the Hospital Board concerned at the rate of 5s per day per patient, and this has covered the entire cost of medical service, nursing, ,food, and everything else' necessary. I think it would be impossible to devise a method • by which the medical services for the soldiers could be more economically or as efficiently provided. As new situations arising out of the war develop, new problems confront' the Department in dealing with them. One arises out of the large number of out-patients who are being treated at the various institutions. At the date of the last return, 14th January, there were 906 in-patients in the -hospitals or homes, and at the same time there were 737 out-patients.

"There are two aspects to be considered. One is the treatment so far as the' return of the soldier to full physical health is concerned, and the second is in regard to his training for an occupation. I notice that there has been a movement in Dunedin to ask that what is known as orthopedic treatment should be concentrated in that city. I doubt whether such a proposal is practicable, as treatment of this class of cases will require not only the use of higher skill of physician or surgeon, but also the vise of those branches of treatment which are found in their highest excellence only at Rotorua. We shall have to treat . every ease on its merits. If it' is thought that a complete cure can be obtained by treatment in a city hospital, it is desirable that the treatment should be given there. If, on' the other hand,'.it is found that supplementary to the treatment at one of our larger hospitals, baths, and electrical treatment are necessary, then clearly it will be the duty of the Govern-' ment to endeavour to concentrate ca6es of tlxis kind at the thermal springs centre. "There is one more branch of the activities of the Public Health Department to which attention may be drawn, namely, the establishment of an artificial limb factory in Wellington. This biauch has been under the control of Mr. Gerald Tolharst, who, I regret to say, wears himself an artificial limb. He has patriotically devoted a large amount of his time to the initiation .of this work. The practical work is done by two returned soldiers, both of whom wear each an artificial leg. They obtained their training at Roehampton, and they are now turning out highclass limbs, but more particularly they are re-fitting limbs provided for soldiers in England. For years after an artificial limb has been fitted adjustments are necessary. Excellent work has been done by this branch, although the equipment is not yet quite satisfactory. At present it is located in the Public Works Department's workshop, but I hope that soon the plant will be brought up to date, and that a more suitable building will be provided for. "This review of the work of the Department, of Public Health in dealing with returned sick and wounded soldiers will be sufficient to show that what has been done and is being done has been for the benefit of our returned soldiers. The peoplo of New Zealand' may rest assured that under the control of the Public Health Department nothing will be wanting to bring about that to which the Government is absolutely committed, namely, that as far as possible every soldier shall be brought hack to that state of health which he enjoyed before enlisting with tho forces."