BEGINNING TODAY

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31090, 20 June 1966, Page 15

BEGINNING TODAY

Flying Doctor Service (N.Z. Press Association) HAMILTON, June 19. New Zealand could have a nation-wide “Flying Doctor” service through the efforts of the St John Ambulance Brigade in the Waikato in association with Hamilton-based commercial air services. The scheme will make It possible for doctors with necessary medical equipment to reach sick and injured people in the most remote back-block areas in a fraction of the time required at present. In the Waikato district, where St John Ambulance divisional surgeons will be ready to pioneer the new service tomorrow, it is estimated that no patient will be more than an hour away from adequate medical attention.

The service is the idea of Dr. E. C. Brewis, of Hamilton, who is the brigade’s district surgeon. The scheme, which will be integrated with civil defence and the Waikato Hospital Board’s emergency organisation, is a development of the St. John “flying squad” formed in June last year as a result of a potential emergency at Tokanui Hospital. This was done on a local basis and involved only a small number of divisions, but it has now been developed into a flying doctor scheme to cover the Waikato and Bay of Plenty district. It could be extended to other areas of the country.