THE EMPIRE'S WAR ACTIVITIES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 10, 30 January 1942, Page 3

THE EMPIRE'S WAR ACTIVITIES

MADE FIT FOR ARMY

REMEDIAL TREATMENT FOR OVER 3000 Nearly 8000 men who were formerly rejected for military service be cause of minor physical defects, are now being reconsidered, and over 3000 have received remedial treatment, whilst over 1100 were found to have recovered good health when examined, stated the Minister of Health, Mr Nordmeyer. Doctors and hospitals were cooperating splendidly, and of 11,749 cases that had so far conic under review by medical boards, only 34/, or about 3 per cent, were still 1 to be dealt with, and only 48, or about 1.4 per cent of the 32,728 recommended for hospital treatment had not yet been admitted. Much more had been done than the public realised, and in no case he was aware of had lack of hospital accommodation, or a shortage of medical men held up this very necessary work. All public hospitals had been instructed to give these cases prior-

The procedure was for the regional deputy to go through files of all men in his area, that. h(ful been classified as grade la or 2, ami select those he thought might respond to remedial treatment, and who would at the termination ol that treatment be likely to be classpd as fit for active service fn. any part of the Avorld. These men were then examined personally by the whole medical board. If there was any disagreement among members of the board the case Avas not) pro-, ceeded with, but where' the beard unanimously recommended treatment, the man was admitted to hospital without delay, but not before he was re-examined and his file thoroughlj' reconsidered by the regional deputy. Most hospitals, especially in the larger centres, were now restricting civilian admission to urgent cases, and all had set aside a number of beds for this and other emergency purposes. The enlistments of these Oil were cancelled and their names were reported to the Director of National Service for inclusion in the Reserve, in order that they should be called up by ballot. The total of 3-188 recommended for remedial treatment was. cut down to 3272, and these men were then dealt with in the following manner-: Received inuatient treatment, 1672; received out-patient, 1442; now under treatment as in-patients, 83; out-patients 97; failed to report and now under action by Army, 110 not yet dealt with, 48; total, 3432.

"The total is larger than the number of men involved, and some have received both in and cut-pati-ent treatment," said Mr Nordmeyer. "In addition to the 11.23 regraded 1 on re-examination, 1425 have emerged as completely fit after treatment. ao that 25,458 extra men have been made available for overseas service in this manner. A large number of men were classed as fit for home defence and jiosted to the Territorial force.