SICK SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 110, 26 January 1918, Page 8

SICK SOLDIERS

PROVISIONS FOB TREATMENT

WORK OF HEALTH DEPARTMENT

A statement was made yesterday by tho Hon. G. W. Russell regarding the treatment of returned sick and wounded- soldiers.

"Since the National Government was formed," said Mr. Russell, "the treatment of sick and wounded soldiers has, by decision of Cabinet, been placed under the control of the Minister of Public Health. The policy which was laid down when I took office has been systematica , . , y carried out. These arc the main features of the system. "In every case whero practicable a returned soldier is placed in that hospital, or institution which is nearsw to his home, provided it is efficient for the treatment of his case. The civilian hospitals of the Dominion vero cheerfully placed at the disposal of the Government for this purpose by tho respective hospital boards, and excellent work has boon done. Fullycquipped convalescent homes havo heen established at Rotorua and HanmoAt Rotorua there have been concentrated chie-ly North Island soldiers, and those in' particular from all parts of New Zealand whose cases required the high electric massage and bath treatment for which Rotorua is famou-. Hanmer has been employed more fer neurasthenic and shell-shock cases, and the climate and surroundings cf this hospital havo brought about many remarkable cures. At .the convalescent homes the average stay of tho soldier has been about six weeks.

"In addition to these main institutions the existing Rotorua hospital has been largely increased and added to, and also an infectious diseases hospital has been erected, so that the hospital at Rotorua is now practically capable of accommodating one hundred .-patients. In addition to these institutions there have been other subsidiary convalescent homes established, one at Devonport and ono at Lowry Bay. For the treatment of consumptive soldiers Tβ Waikato sanatorium has been entirely set apart, tho female patients having been removed to Otaki. The necessity for another consumptive institution for returned soldiers has already become evident, and inquiries are now being made with regard to the establishment of another institution in a suitable locality. It is being found that the number of men requiring treatment for tubercular diseases is considerable. Many of the men develop the disease after they return to the Dominion. There are also two institutions for the treatment of mental patients, one at Karitane, near tho Soacliff asylum, and ono near the Avondale Mental Hospital. Remarkable cures have been effected at both .of these institutions.

"Such are tho methods by which the Department works. Many thousands of_ men have passed through the institutions, and the success of tho scheme has been most pronounced. I «m thankful to say that tho total number of deaths in hospitals, or after treatment in hospitals, has been less 100. This is a record of which the Health Department may feel justly proud. I am ablo to point with somo i satisfaction to the fact that neither in Parliament nor in tho Press of the Dominion has there been ono word of criticism regarding the treatment of sick and wounded soldiers under the administration of the Department I have the honour to control. And the cost of this great service has been in every way economical. No special doctors have been required. The whole work at Hotonia, where at last advices thero were 227 soldiers and discharged mou under treatment, has been conducted by the Tourist Officer, Dr. Herbert, and by the Public Health Officer, Dr. Swanston. At Hanmer, ono medical officer, Dr. Hendry, has performed all tho work. At all the other hospitals the medical service has been performed by the ordinary staff. A consolidated payment is made per week to the Hospital Board concerned at tho iato of ss. per day per patient, and this has covered tho entiro cost of medical service, nursing, food, and everything else necessary. I think it would bo impossibly to devise a method by which the medical services for the soldiers could ba more economically or as efficiently provided. "As new situations arising out of the war develop, new problems confront the Department .in dealing with them. One arises out of the lance number of nut-patients who are being treated at the various institutions. At the date of tho last return, January 14, there were 906 in-patients in the hospitals or homes, and at the same time there were 737 out-imtients.

"There are two aspects to be considered. One is the treatment so far as the return of the soldier to full physical health is concerned, and the Becond is in regard to his training for on occupation. I noticn that thorn has been a movement in Dunedin to ask that what is known as orthopedic treatment should be concentrated in that city. I doubt whether such a proposal is practicable, as treatment of this class of cases will require not only the use of higher skill of physician or surgeon, but also the use of those branches of treatment which aro found in their highest excellence only at Eotorun. We" shall have to treat overy case on its merits. If it is thought that a complete. eure_ can ho obtained by treatment in a fiity hospital, it is desirable that the treatment should be given there. If, on the other hand, it is found that supplementary to the treatment at one of our larger hospitals, baths, and electrical treatment are necessary, then clearly it will bn the duty of the. Government to (indpavour to concentrate cases of this kind at the thermal springs centre. "There is one more branch ot tlio activities of the Public Health Department to which attention may be drawn, namely, the establishment oi .an artificial limb factory -n Wellington This branch h?s been, under tho control of Mr. Gerald Tolhnrst.- who, I re»ret to say, wears himsnlf an artificial limb. Ho has patriotically devoted a large amount of his time to the initiation of this work. The practical work is dene by two returned soldiers, both f-f v.-hoir wear ek ffl artificial ha. They obtained thoir training at Jtoehamptoii. and they are now turning out hh-h-class limbs hut more particularly '-her »W rp-htt.ii!3 limbs provided for soldiers ju England. For vpars aft"- , nr : artihoial limb lias been'fitted udmstnients aro necessary. TCx-ellcnt work has been done bv tms branch, dtlionph tho equipment is not yet quit/, satisfueWy. At present'* is located in the. Public Works Department's workshop, but I hope that soon tho plant will bo brn'Krht up to date, and that >\ more suitable building will he provided for"This" review of thp work ot the Department cf Public Health in dcdinr; with returnee! sick and wounded diors will be snfliok-nt to show that what has been done and is being dons i,nc boon for the. benefit of our returned'soldiers. The peonle nf >.ow Z«a----1 1 rnuel t h?ck to that state of healtli SftJi W°™ -listing with the torcoa." ______