SOLDIER OUT-PATIENTS.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 27 June 1919, Page 4

SOLDIER OUT-PATIENTS.

j.-a: i A MEDICAL OVERHAUL. ,-■'. {The Medical Branch, of .-"the. Defence Department has- decided to -set up. a ''special MedicS! Board for the purpose j of examining- all soldiers who are out- [ patients at all hospitals in New Zeai land. This Board will travel over the iyhole of New Zealand with u view to ! classifying these cases. In addition, to resumed soldier? actually attending as 'out-patients, it. is believed that there | may l>e some ftisabled men who receivI ed their, discharge before thejtossibilij tics opened up by the recent advances tin military orthopaedic surgery and 1 other kinds of treatment of war disi abilities had developed. Any disabled liien in this condition who desire their cases to be reviewed by the Travelling i Medical Board should at once comj inuniente with the Assistant Direetoi I of Medical Services of their ihilH-ary j district {.Auckland, "Wellington. Ca-nter-I \>av>, or Otago). That officer will-then I -arrange thai, these men are brought be--fore the Board»"in ttie course of its i itinerary. , Case 1 ; requiring treatment "ill be ! sent to the -most suitable hospital for in-patient treatment, so that rimy ntay got greater benefit. Other out-patients have readied a stationary position in regard to their disability, and where the Board is satisfied that ho further ' good can be done they will be boarded .; oar, and their pension finally adjusted.

As the Defence Department has now a complete series of hospitals for specialist treatment, the Medical Board will In; able in many eases to'.recommend transfers of patients to the hospital in which their' particular " disability will be dealt with by a-'spetialh-trained start': .Soldier patients in the

e'n/j] hospitals are to be included in this examination. The Board tvil],iuake a special note regarding limbless eases and those requiring operative treat-? incur. "Every patient will have his ease ■conridf red, with a view to providing him. with the beat tieatmem available in riie Dominion., The policy of the Department is not to allow its soldier patien.is to indefinitely', drift. The Board comprises a consulting surgeon ::> the. forces, and a surgeon who lias had a wide experience on a hospital ship-and in military hospitals'. It will be able to determine what can be don;' to improve the condition of the patient, ;md to definitely decide if nothing further can be done by medical saience, in which case the soldier will have his pension facilities provided by the State t'or the assistance of disabled men to learn special occupations, suitable for them- It is s anticipated that this Board will require several months to complete its itinerary,

it is hoped that any discharged sol■dicre on permanent pension who consider they may be benefited by further*" treatment will report, as indicated, to the- Assistant Director of Medical Ser:vices of theJr'district, This will elearly be eutirely to their advantage, as although their physical condition may be improved, their pension', if already made pemmnent. cannot be reduced. !iflMßßrMitg»M«aaMmßgag»