TREATMENT OF SICK SOLDIERS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 13 July 1915, Page 6

TREATMENT OF SICK SOLDIERS

{United 'Peess Association.) WELLINGTON, July 12. ■ A deputation representing- the Wellington branch of the British Medical Association waited upon the Hon. James Allen (Minister of Defence) arid the Hon. R. H: Khodes (Minister of Public Health)' this afternoon .to seek information and make suggestions with regard to the l , treatment of sick soldiers in camp &nd wounded men returning from the froot. The deputation comprised Drs. Elliott (president), Gibbs, Christie, and Giesen.

Dr. Gibbs said that medical men throughout the Dominion outside the military service were at sixes and sevens with regard to what was expected of them, not ■having had anything definite or clear put before them ; and in a spirit of unanimity they desired to know how they could be of'service in attending to sick soldiers. At present they knew noth-. ing of what- was to be done in regard to the sick at the various homes which lad "been offered to the Government _ f.-r returned' sick soldiers and such bundling* as the Kelbum and Oriental Bav tea kiosks. In regaid to the hoMiii-ils already in existence, such as Berhauipore and KaiwaTra, so. far <"s they knew those institutions were not effectively supplied with medical attendants H~ knew of more than one case where depths had occurred in the presenc" of relatives who wondered that no medical men were apparently- available. Mr Allen": hospital was that? Dr. Gibbs thought h was Then a difficulty"h-*id- already arisen in Wellington in -wxard to men who had been sent out to camp in a convalescent stage. Many had relapsed and there was no "provision for treating them. These men naturally lockied for medical service at the hands of the military authorities, "but the contingency had not been .provided' for. The trouble with the local practitioners was to know what to do. Overworked as they ,were, an extra strain was thrust upon them bv having to rush in to temporarily attend to these men in their -honaes or boarding-houses. Dr. Elliott said the . deputation also desired information in recardi to the Trentharn hospital, which had- been; looked upon as a verv urgent matter. The question had' arisen' why no heed had been givpn to the wishes of the Association Qulv the nucleus of a hosuital now existed*. but it might have been made use "of to prevent the present epi- : demic from extending to its present dimensions'if their rdviee had been listened to. Had the As-<wriation known thit ■ there was -to be no hospital, tbey might ■ have .provided ambulances to convey the sick ar.d wounded more rjuickly and- safelv thsan bud been done by the one cr two ambulances that were used. "VVhcn-< " war out- the medical officer of the Territorial iottp in the Old Country , were immediately given an army status, and it was thought the same thine mighthave been done" here. The neglect to , do so had caused the Territorial meaical officers to be of no use. What the deputation thought was mat the medical corps should be extended and uie ■ Territorial officers given authority to supervise' and man the hospitals. - Mr Allen r Will they give us tne whole of their.time? Dr. Elliott-: Thev would give part of their time in the same way as wa-S" cone- - at Home. Mr Allen, replying to the deputation. -said that oriy- tyaieral principles cerned him as Minister of Defence, because a great amount of the work respect to hospital arrangements had been .kiindly taken over by his colleague, 'Mr Rhodes. .. , • The Hbn.-'R- H- JJhcidas said- he •wished to disabuse the mmds of the «e- ---■ nutation.of any idea that the doctors - were being asked, to serve the Defeuco Department eratnitoualy. Yv hen the matter of securing the services of doctors as 'an organised bod(y had been mentioned* in the House or Bepresentatives bv the Leader of the Opposition ■ mention had- been- made of the ft"*™*" - certain offers of .service had reached the ■ TfepaTtment from -the doctors, but there •was no proposal to ask medical men to • act for the-:Depa.rtme»rt without charge. "I shall be veryelad if you wall meet - the head of the Public HeaVth Depart--1 ment and consult him with reference to organisation," said the" Minister. J™" t " ia£ t6 the question of the invalided soldiers. Mr Rhodes: said that it was assumed that most of'the. men would be sufficiently .recovered to be able to proceed to" their homes. The rWave* ; it everv case had signified a de- " sire- to receive the men at once Hos- " pKal accommodation would) be ready fo. men who still required treatment. Wellington was perhaps worse oft ■ than other places or, this respect, out beos SUld be available for men who needed, them. With regard to imuds who*e relatives xesided outside New Zealand, convalescent homes would be .provided The k«o*k at .Oriental Ba-y had- been preppred; and he. had received an offer ofthe use of-Kelbum kiosk., Military Medical officers "in-the different districts Ss?be asked- to look after the men.