THE CALL FOR DOCTORS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 251, 14 July 1915, Page 3

THE CALL FOR DOCTORS.

“Gunshot” writes as follows to the N.Z. Herald: I feel it imperative to endorse the remarks of “General Practitioner” in Thursday’s Herald, in. which lie denounces the medical military muddle existing in Wellington. I think it is three weeks sinc e there appeared in the Herald the appeal of the War Office for 100 doctors from New Zealand. As a rule, in civil life a doctor is not sent for until he is wanted, and when he is wanted he is expected to arriv e with some celerity. To the battlefield the summons is an urgent one, and the essence of a soldierly spirit is promptness. When that “100 doctors” appeal was mad e I maintain that it was the duty of the Defence Department to equip and to ship without a moment’s needless delay every medical man who volunteered for service, always provided his career, his character, and his credentials were satisfactory to the authorities. This can usually be ascertained within twelve hours by a man in the position of Inspetor-General of Hospitals, to whom many applicants must be known personally. Such an officer should know, or could know in the same short time, whether any backblock area is likely to he without medical service by the acceptance of th* services of country petitioners, and here he would naturally exorcise his limited power to veto. I do not appear to have suffered to th e extent of other general practitioners, but after a full fortnight of suspense and business preparation I am still awaiting th e decision of somebody in Wellington. It may be quite besid e the question that I possess a London qualification, am under 40 yrs of age, have had experience of general practice in both England and New Zealand, and held hospital appointments in''both countries, that I hold a collection of excellent testimonials, have twice in New Zealand been complimented by the Health Department (how I wish I could unreservedly reciprocate!), and neither politically nor privately, as far as I know, have I been an offence to the Government. However, I claim no special abilities: my sacrifice is certainly less than others are making, but I am intensely disappointed that so far my offer to serve has not been accepted, and, like so many others, I contemplate offering my services to the Australian Government, unless th e columns of the Press rouse the Neve Zealand Defence Department from its ineptitude very quickly. For I cannot wait indefinitely. i realise that every dw’s delay in providing radical atten'T'nco to our stricken men-may prolong their agony or shorten their lives. On their account w r e general practitioners are ready to chance submarine attacks, to scale th e heights of the Dardanelles c-o tr> fnen in Flanders, or even typhus in Servia.

W e trust that the fearless and impartial columns of the Herald will have a drastic effect and secure an immediate answer, which will relieve personal suspense of medical volunteers and bring home to the Government the appalling slackness of which the Defence Department has been guilty. This guilt will be intensified unless the Department sends for. ward by each successive steamer in July groups of medical men who are prepared to serve under fire.