GOOD MEDICAL CARE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXIII, Issue 24, 28 December 1942, Page 5

GOOD MEDICAL CARE.

(Official War Correspondent.) NOFILIA, Dee. 19. One of tlie most outstanding features of the great desert journey •accomplished by the New Zealand forces has been the organisation of medical supplies to provide skilled treatment and every care for tlie wounded during the period of the troops’ complete isolation, sometimes deep in this land _ of vast wastes hundreds of miles from civilisation. Fortunately casualties have been light, hut preparations were made to cone with the most serious eventualities. Seriously wounded men received high grade surgery in what was really a field hospital. Severe cases, including brain wounds, were operated on within a short time of being wounded and received the benefit of modern specific drugs. Blood transfusion played a big part in the successful treatment of these cases and was an important factor in saving many lives. The blood transfusion unit carried a full stock of plasma a-nd serum and large supplies of blood preserved in special refrigeration. After the clearance of the enemy from the lines of communication, the wounded, now operated on and comfortable, were carried back by ambulance to the next link in the chain of evacuation—the New Zealand casualty clearing station. For seriously injured or certain types of wounded who would not stand the long desert trip by ambulance, air ambulances were provided to carry the men back quickly with the least possible disturbance over many hundreds of miles of desert to New Zealand hospitals in Egypt. Using bulldozers our engineers provided a special track to the main road over incredibly rough country to facilitate this evacuation. Medical units which moved with the troops comprised field ambulances and complete surgical teams (including a brain surgeon) fully equipped with hospital beds and additional equipment for brain, chest, and abdominal surgery. There was no lack of ambulance cars accompanying these units to provide the greater mobility required in the event of heavy casualties. By the use of available empty supply trucks for the carriage of light cases, liad the necessity arisen, the medical organisation provided would have enabled many hundreds of patients to be treated and held or carried with the forces ponding flic clearing of any tactical situation. Other units were in reserve ready to be called up at short notice. All medical units were equipped with wireless, ready to bo summoned or moved quiokly as the need arose. Medical comforts and Red Cress supplies wore provided in large quantities by the New Zealand Red Cross and were* of inestimable value.