WAR HOSPITALS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20142, 11 January 1940, Page 5

WAR HOSPITALS

NEW ZEALAND TROOPS l ESTABLISHMENT IN U.K. STAFF FROM DOMINION CONSIDERATION OF PLANS The establishment in Great Britain of New Zealand military hospitals similar to those conducted during the Great War is being discussed by the Government with army leaders and representatives of the medical profession. As yet the discussions are in an early stage. it is understood that the plan envisaged provides for the initial establishment of two hospitals. These, it is intended, would be staffed entirely by New Zealand doctors and nurses. Further development of the scheme by tin' opening of additional institutions would depend on the circumstances. Great War Hospitals The two principal New Zealand military hospitals in Great Britain during the last war were at Walton-on-Thamcs and Brockenhurst. There was another at Codl’ord and there were convalescent homes at Hornchurch and Brighton. The hospital at Walton-on-Thamcs was opened on August 1, 1915, as the New Zealand War Contingent Hospital and within two days it received men from Gallipoli. As many New Zealanders as possible were also transferred there from British hospitals and those who could not enter Walton were concentrated, as far as possible, in the Second London General Hospital. Alter a few months the name of the hospital was'changed to the New Zealand Military Hospital. Later, when the New Zealand Expeditionary Force took it over from the New Zealand War Contingent Association, it became known as the No. 2 New Zealand General Hospital. At that lime the accommodation was for about 350 patients, but towards the end of 1918 it was able to accommodate 1900. History of RrocUcnhtirsl Brockenhurst Hospital was taken over by the New Zealand authorities from the War Ofiice in June, 1910. It had previously been a hospital for Indian soldiers. Together with a number of auxiliary hospitals, the establishment was known as the No. 1 New Zealand General Hospital. Though there were only a few hundred patients in Brockenhurst during Hie earlier months, there were occasions during 1918 when if accommodated nearly 1900.

Taken over a few months after Brockenhurst, the hospital at Codi'ord was known as No. 3 New Zealand General Hospital. Its situation in the Salisbury Plain area enabled it to afford accommodation for men from Codi’ord Camp, just opposite, and Sling Camp, a lew miles away by road.

Tiie establishment at Hornchurch was officially designated the New Zealand Convalescent Hospital, and ultimately it found accommodation for 2508 soldiers. Two New Zealand officers' homes, run conjointly, were also instituted at Brighton, where there was. also a convalescent home for New Zealand Army Nursing Sisters.

From May 1, 1910, to the time when the New Zealand hospitals were closed there were about 70,000 admissions of New Zealanders to New Zealand and Imperial hospitals in the United Kingdom. Walton-ou-Thames admitted more than 25,000 patients, and Brockenhurst considerably more than 20,000.