HIGH PRAISE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26641, 11 December 1947, Page 6

HIGH PRAISE

MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS ENGLISH VISITOR IMPRESSED SIR GEORGE AYLWEN’S VISIT “ I have just come from a devastated London and my admiration for some of your buildings, especially the hospitals, is tinged with envy,” said Sir George Aylwen, who is visiting Dunedin, in an' interview with the Daily Times. Sir George is particularly interested in hospitals, being treasurer, with the charter title of chairman, of St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, London, the oldest hospital in the Commonwealth. It was first established 830 years ago. Yesterday, Sir George was conducted through the Dunedin-Hospital and the Otago Medical School by the dean of the Medical School, Sir . Charles Hercus, and, the medical superintendent, Dr James Thomson. “The spirit aftd efficiency of the hospital impressed me very much,’’ he commented, “and I think the new Medical School building not only will be a very fine asset to New Zealand but will also have a great interest to everybody connected with medical science. When completed, it will be, in my opinion, one of the best institutions of its kind in the British Empire.” ’ The facilities available for the various staffs in the hospital were the subject of praise by Sir' George who added that he would -have many fresh ideas to take back to his -own hospital. . Many of the famous hospitals in England, he said, had been heavily damaged by bombing and althougn these should form early .priorities for rebuilding he considered that it would be a long time before they were again fully functioning. Equipment was in short supply as everything in the highclass mechanical field was. “Luckily, in spite of difficulties and privations, the health of the people as a whole has remained remarkably high,” Sir George continued, “but I should imagine that the lack of really essential foods, including fats, would have its effect in the unfortunate event of any epidemic attacking the population.”