RED CROSS CONVALESCENT HOME.

Southland Times, Issue 18810, 1 May 1920, Page 10

RED CROSS CONVALESCENT HOME.

To the Editor. Sir, —Referring to the correspondence appearing in both papers in connection with the Soldiers’ Convalescent Horae, the writers should have pone to the trouble of ascertaining the nature of the control exercised by the Red Cross Society before making statements which are not only incorrect but unjust and unkind. The members of the executive give way to no one in their desire to assist the soldiers, and the fact that they have been connected with the active work of the Society for about. five years is surely sufficient evidence to warrant this assertion, “Worker’s” letter in the News is what you may expect from one who knows nothing of the great amount of labour performed by the ladies who have been members of the executive from time to time. Any member of the present executive is only too willing to give place to “Worker” and unless I receive an offer of service from the writer, I shad know just what vjiiue to place on his or her criticism. The control of the Soldiers’ Convalescent Home is exercised by' the Defence Department. All the sohlier inmates are under the control of the Department and can therefore be moved by them to any place desired, without reference to or the sanction of the Red Gross Society. The Defence Department provide the matron and the masseuse, and I>r Garfield Crawford acts as medical officer under the Department. The work of the Society' is therefore confined to providing the comforts, provisions and assistance required in maintaining the Home. When the Defence Department wrote to the executive to say that they would be removing some of the patients ami that this would leave only one or two remaining, and suggesting that the Home should be closed, ns the need for it would not then exist, the executive replied that it could not sec its way to close the Home until the remaining patients were provided for. Our information was and is that only one man is likely to be loft, and the Defence Department, naturally do not feel disposed to provide the staff for one patient only. During the last few days X Slave heard it said that there are a number of soldiers who have been discharged by the Defence Department who arc fit suhiects for the Convalescent Horne. Well, all I can say is that we have not had one application for admittance from this class of, patient, and if such do exist, then it is the duty of those who know about them, to communicate with the secretary or Dr Crawford, and the soldiers would have been willingly received into the Horae, I am enclosing a report from Dr Crawford, giving details of each case now in the Home, without of course the names, so that your readers will see that the policy of the Defence Department in concentrating at Timaru a Horae for the South Island, is justified at least on the score of expense. It may be mentioned that, the Dunedin Home is occupied by patients who are receiving treatment at the Jaw Hospital and special treatment which cannot be given hero. After the Department withdraws its assistance and support from the Southland Convalescent Home, there is no reason why —if the necessity exists for continuing- - the Society should not provide the staff necessary to keep the Home open. Their is no need to consider the financial aspect of it, because there arc ample funds in hand and if it can be shown that there are a number of men who should ha-re further treatment, then the Homo should certainly not be closed, but the executive has no information of one single case. If anyone has knowledge of these cases and will communicate with the Society, then a general meeting will bo called to consider the matter and make arrangements for carrying on (he Home independent of the Defence Department. One writer asks what is to he done with the funds of the Society-. The expenditure of the Society’s funds at the present time is under the control of the Minister of Internal Affairs who grants authority from time to time for payments towards the upkeep of the present Homo, and. nothing can be spent without his authority-. My own ooirrion is that when the expenditure on the Home ceases, the local Society should endeavour to have the whole amount remaining sjxmt on motor ambulances to be placed in different parts of the Southland district from which the funds have been collected. I think this would he a great boon to the country' people, who now number amongst them in a)I parts n great many returned soldiers. If this idea meets with the approval of subscribers to the Society, I believe it would be difficult for the Minister to refuse his sanction. Failing thus, I expect we may see the funds taken possession of by the Government for some purpose in connection with soldiers. As regards the endowed cots, the branches provkling these should certainly have the sav as to what is to be done with them, but most of the cots have been donated with a proviso that after the Home is closed they arc to be handed over to the Southland Hospital—l am, etc., R. A. ANDERSON, Chairman Red Cross Executive.

The following is the report by Dr Garfield Crawford mentioned in Mr Anderson’s letter :—■ Case No. 1. —Gunshot wound, arm. Private address Otautau, Patient desirous of living at his own home for a time and of being in meantime treated as out-patient Southland Hospital. Patient’s wishes reasonable and no medical grounds for refusing same. Case No. 2.—Chronic Bronchitis. No home of his own. Invercargill climate not suitable for this patient, who is recommended for transfer to a convalescent home in a more suitable district. Case No. 3.—G.S.W. Thigh. No home of his own. A suitable case in meantime for this Convalescent Home. Had this patient a home in Invercargill there is no medical reason why ho could not be satisfactorily treated as out-patient Southland Hospital. Case No. 4.—Chronic Rheumatism and Tachyc: Invercargill winter too rigorous; ' ;>nend: ' or transfer to cow. j in a more suitable dm-

trict. Heart condition may also necessitate special treatment at Trentham Military Hospital. Case No. s.—Tuberculous 'Disease Foot and Gastritis. Private address Aparima. Patient is desirous of living at own home for a period and of being treated as outpatient Southland Hospital. No medical reason why effect should not be given to patient’s wishes. Case No. 6. —N.Z.M.C. orderly—deformity toes. No service overseas; deformity existed prior to patient’s entering Featherstone Military Camp. Fit for discharge.