SOLDIERS IN HOSPITAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25426, 6 January 1944, Page 2

SOLDIERS IN HOSPITAL

* VISITS , FROM NEXT-OF-KIN FREE TRAVELLING WARRANTS (P.A.) WELLINGTON. Jan. 5. “ In furtherance of the Government’s general policy of doing everything-pos-sible for the comfort and well-being of soldiers confined to hospital as a result of disability arising from their military service, the War Cabinet decided some months ago to issue free travelling warrants to next-of-kin residing at a distance from the hospital where the soldier is confined,” said the Minister of Defence, Mr F. Jones, in a statement to-day. “That privilege, which was extended to next-of-kin 'or any other person nominated by the soldierpatient, has been widely availed of,” the Minister added.

“For the benefit of those who are not aware of the conditions under which these free warrants are issued the appropriate army instruction provides as follows:—‘ln the case of a soldier-patient whose disability is attributable to overseas service, where the medical superintendent concerned is satisfied that the patient is not likely to be removed to a hospital within a convenient distance from his home within seven days of his disembarkation from overseas, free travelling warrants may be issued immediately to eligible next-of-kin. v ln the case of a soldier-patient who has not served overseas, free return travelling warrants may be issued to eligible, next-of-kin if and when the soldier has been an in-patient of the hospital for a continuous period of 28 days. “‘Free travelling warrants, issuable as explained above, will not be issued for more than one return journey in three months by each of the eligible relatives (father, mother, wife), but the individual journeys may not necessarily be made at the same time. In the event of absence or non-existence of all such relatives or failure for any reason on the part of any one of them to accept this concession, the warrants will be issued to a person whom the soldier may nominate, for this purpose. These free travelling warrants are additional to those available to next-of-kin to visit “dangerously ill” or “seriously ill” soldier patients.’”