LITTLE HOPE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 May 1943, Page 5

LITTLE HOPE

OF BETTER MEDICAL SERVICE FOR CIVILIANS. POSITION ACUTE IN AUCKLAND. I (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, May 24. I Hope of increased medical attention I for civilians in Auckland as the result 'of widespread reductions in the Army I strength is still apparently very remote, ' according to statements made by the president of the British Medical Associ- , ation in Auckland, Dr. E. J. Cronin. Dr. Cronin attended a conference in Wellington on Thursday between the Association, Health Department and Army, and was given to understand that it would not be practicable or possible to release doctors over 40, as is being done in Australia. The position in Auckland was still . very grave, Dr. Cronin said, and the Association had been considering ways and means of relieving it. Following the conference in Wellington, and discussions with the- Auckland Hospital authorities an exchange would probably be arranged whereby four general practitioners cobid be released from the Army and their positions be filled by three young house doctors from the hospital, The Army would accept young graduates, but it was advisable for their own sakes that they should have some monihs’ hospital experience before they were expected to work on their own.

A main factor complicating the whole position regarding medical services was that so much of a civil doctor's day was taken up with Army work. A large .Himber of doctors had to act on medical boards, and as medical referees for manpower committees, appeal boards md organisations. Further, too, many members of the forces took their complaints to doctors with overcrowded civilian practices instead of to the military medical advisers.