AID BY AIR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23044, 23 May 1938, Page 10

AID BY AIR

DOCTOR'S QUICK TRIP GREAT BARRIER ISLAND USE OF NAVAL CRAFT CASE BROUGHT TO HOSPITAL Using a naval amphibian aeroplane, a doctor from the Auckland Hospital oil Saturday answered an urgent call to attend two eases of illness on the Great Barrier Island and brought one of the patients back with him to the hospital for treatment. A telephone call was received at the Hobsonville Air Base at !) a.m. from Tryphena, asking that a doctor be sent to attend a three-years-old girl, who was stated to be suffering from pneumonia, and an adult, her undo, who was also in need of treatment. Tho authorities at the base immediately informed the Auckland Hospital and obtained permission for tho Walrus amphibian of H.M.S. Achilles, then at the Hobsonville seaplane base, to make tho 60-mile lliglit to the Great Barrier. The Navy's co-operation was needed because tho Royal New Zealand Air Force does not at present maintain seaplanes or flying-boats at Hobson» ville. Child Past the Crisis At 10.530 a.m. the amphibian, piloted by Lieutenant T. I'. Coodo, R.N., and carrying a wireless operator, em barked Dr. G. 11. Nicks, of the resident staff of the hospital. The flight to Iryphenil, which is at th„e southern end of the island, occupied about half an hour. The machine alighted in tho landlocked harbour and Dr. Nicks, after landing, was taken about three miles overland to tho home of tho patients. The doctor found that the little girl, Minnie Medland, daughter of Mr, S. Medland, was past tlie crisis and could bo left under the supervision of the district nurse. It was decided, however, that her uncle, Mr. J. Medland, should be brought back to Auckland. The patient, who was able to walk, was conveyed to Tryphena and placed on board the aeroplane. Before leaving, Dr. Nicks attended eight other people who wore suffering from various minor ailments. Return to Hobsonville The amphibian reached Hobsonville again about 3.30 p.m. and Mr. Medland was placed in a waiting ambulance, which took him to hospital. On his return Dr. Nicks, expressing a merely personal opinion, said that it would bo a good i thing if a doctor could be sent to the Great Barrier Island by aeroplane every four or six weeks. The journey would take very little time and such a service would be of much benefit to tho inhabitants. At present tho only skilled attention available to them was that of the district nurse, who was stationed at Port Fitzrov and had to defend mainly on launches to reach the other settlements on tho island.