SOLDIER PATIENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17263, 12 September 1919, Page 9

SOLDIER PATIENTS.

WORK AT THE ANNEXE.

CASES OF DISCHARGED MEN.

DEPARTMENT SYMPATHETIC.

Since the Defence Department decided to equip the hospital annexe as a f"'Vyequipped orthopedic hospital, 'introduced the system of curative and vocational training, and took over complete control of the institution from the Hospital Board. additions and extensions have gone on apace, and at present it is hardly possible to recognise the building as the one which housed the machinery at the 1913 exhibition. The improvements in accommodation and equipments throw into sharp relief the difficulties under which the doctors formerly worked a.nd the depressing conditions under which the patients formerly lived. To-day the barnlike appearance of the building has disappeared, and with the great increase in the number of agencies for keeping patients entertained and interested, and at the same time aiding their cure, the men have a much happier time.

The annexe now possesses a complete operating theatre of its own, and patients no longer have to be sent to the main hospital to be operated upon. In the massage department men can receive almost any electric treatment that is ordered, and in connection with this work accommodation has been provided for electric bathing apparatus, and for a gymnasium. Neither of these subaepartments has yet been equipped, but it will not be long before tney will be.

Much Work Still to Be Done. As very few more men for hospital treatment are expected from overseas inquiry was made to Lieut'.-Colonel P. O. Andrew, assistant-director of medical services, and head of the medical branch of the Auckland defence staff, as to how long there will be need for the annexe as a military hospital. He stated that at present there are about 160 patients in the annexe, besides 350 out-patients, who attend for treatment. in addition, about 40 men are at. the convalescent hospital which was recently opened at Narrow Neck, and 18 are in the Devonport convalescent home at North Head. These numbers,' however, do not represent the total who have to receive medical treatment from the Defence Department. Owing to the fact that the arrival of patients from overseas has practically ceased, and the extension of apparatus for orthopedic treatment, the Department is now paying attention «o discharged men whose service disabu.ues, or disabilities aggravated by service, can now be remedied by special treatment. The travelling medical board of the Department has examined a large number of discharged soldiers, and has sent many of them to the hospital for further treatment. He indicated that the policv of the Department is to do everything possible for discharged soldiers' who are suffering from war disabilities.

A Sympathetic Attitude. Inquiries from other sources go to show that the Department is most sympathetic toward returned men. and the inference is that, while it will not accept any responsibility for a disability not due "to or aggravated by service, it errs on the side of liberality. Apart entirely from the annexe, about 450 discharged soldiers are receiving medical treatment as out-patient* at the headquarters of the medical branch of the Department at the Drill Hall. Probably the most of these men are in employment, hut are able to see the medical officer at the drill shed frequently, and are also able to obtain medicine prescribed at the dispensary adjoining. Further, Major McCaw. one of the orthopedic medical officers at the annexe, has been appointed to deal with all men who have lost limbs, and who require repairs to their artificial appliances. Specialised Treatment.

The annexe is now under the charge of Colonel (J. W. Murray, who has under him two expert orthopedic surgeons and two house surgeons, and he has the assistance of the honorary medical staff of the civil hospital. Special mention was made of the services rendered by the honorary surgeons in the past under difficult conditions. Part of the nursing staff was supplied by the civil hospital, which also suw>:ied the food.

Colonel Andrew- said that, a new classification of patients has been carried out. Men classed as C.P.D.I, (chronic pulmonary disease intermediate) are sent to Featherston Hospital, heart cases to Kamo, and men requiring special jaw treatment to Dunedin, where there is a special institution for them. Consumptives are classified, and as a result 12 shelters are being erected beside the annexe for patients whose homes are in Auckland. As an indication of the Department's policy in respect to the care of coneumptive men. it was stated that arrangements have been made to put up a shelter for a patient at his own home, but when a change in domestic arrangements makes this impossible, the shelter is erected at the nearest convenient place to the man's home. In \ieM of the extent of the work undertaken, it is probable that there will be use for the annexe, hospital for a considerable time.

Vocational Training. '

A certain amount of vocational and curative training is compulsory at the annexe. The subjects include basket, leather, reed and poker work, pen-paint-ing, motor-engineering, carpentry, beekeeping, dairy farming, poultry farming, wool-classing. bootmaking. economic?', book-keeping and elementary civics. The carpentry class is often -compulsorv for men who are suffering from stiff "arms, etc. In respect to the purely vocational classes, however, there appears to he overlapping with the work the Repatriation Hoard is carrying out for discharged men. The opinion has been expressed that where the work at the annexe is not connected with curative treatment a saving might be effected if use were made of the Repatriation Board's vocational classes. Apparently the Defence Department will have use for the annexe budding as a. hospital for a considerable time, and it therefore is not known what the intention is as to the ultimate disposal of the building. Prior to the war it was suggested that it should lie used as a drill shed for cadets. No great loss would be sustained if it weir deeded to remove the building from the Domain. It is merely a large iron shed, and the sub division-; are composed of asbestos sheetin", the value of which has not been reduced owing to the fact that timber covers the space between the sheets and holds them in position.

DEPARTMENT CRITICISED.

' FROM ONE EXTREME TO OTHER."

Numbers of people have expressed surprise at the fart that the Defence Department, which starrer) " the. annexe in regard to equipment when it was under the control of the Hospital Board, is now providing up-to-date apparatus with so liberal a hand. Strong comment has been made in various medical quarters that this equipment, absolutely necessary for the treatment of many injuries, is bein~ provided nearly a year after the close of hostilities. The suggestion that some of the material could not be obtained dunng the war is scouted, it being affirmed that seeing that New Zealand in bringing so many of her injured men home for treatment was relieving hospital accommodation in Britain. It is felt that in these circumstances the War Office, if it had been aslted. would have found some equipment for the treatment of soldiers here. It is recalled that the Defence Department repeatedly refused to provide an operating theatre at the annexe, although it was pointed out that it was a very serious matter to carry patients back to the annexe in an ambulance after being operated on in the hospital.