BRITISH CHILDREN

Taranaki Daily News, 18 September 1940, Page 6

BRITISH CHILDREN

HEALTH PRESERVATIONS The Taranaki Hospital Board agreed at its meeting yesterday to afford free out-patient treatment to all British children allotted to homes within the jurisdiction of the board. The Department of Health advised the board that arrangements were proceed,. ing for the transfer to New Zealand of a considerable number of British children for the duration of the war and six months afterwards. They were expected to arrive in the Dominion in bodies of several hundred. Homes had been offered in New Zealand for some 10.000 children, though this number was not likely to be reached for a considerable time. The children would proceed to widely spread homes in town« and country districts so that the number in any one centre would be comparatively few. Ages ranged from five to 16 years. People in New Zealand who had undertaken to provide a home were doing so gratuitously, stated the department, but, among the measures of assistance whidh it was desired to render to foster-par-ents was the provision of necessary medical, dental and hospital care for the children. Generally, _ they would be entitled to hospital benefits under the Social Security Act, but, in addition, hospitals were being asked to afford outpatient treatment as well. Arrangements were being made for children of school age to receive free treatment within the scope of school dental clinics. while the New Zealand Dental Association and the New Zealand branch of the British Medical Association were being approached for any assistance within their power.