MEDICAL SERVICE IN MIDDLE EAST

Southland Times, Issue 24826, 19 August 1942, Page 5

MEDICAL SERVICE IN MIDDLE EAST

TRIBUTE BY GENERAL FREYBERG

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, August 18. A high tribute to the work of the New Zealand Medical Service in the Middle East is paid by LieutenantGeneral Sir Bernard Freyberg in a cable to the Minister of Defence. The message states that the general has just visited a general hospital at Beirut in the canal area, and at Helwan he had personal experience of the skill and care shown at the No. 1 general hospital while recovering from his wounds. “I feel that at the present moment, when there are so many battle casualties in our hospitals, ycu would be reassured to know something of the wonderful work of our medical service in looking after the battle casualties,” Lieutenant-General Freyberg continues. “Our hospitals are excellently equipped, the skill of the doctors and the nursing staffs is of the highest standard and all serious cases have special day and night nurses. The Director of Medical Services has reported that the wounded have arrived in excellent condition, due to quick evacuation, including by air, and the high standard of medical attention by the field ambulances. A wonderful spirit of efficiency and devotion to duty was evident, both in the hospitals and in the field, and the great work of the medical services has received continual inspiration from the magnificent spirit of our wounded.”