MEDICAL AID FOR PARASHOTS "
SIR,—The clergy, I understand, are to be allowed to give " help and encouragement " in an unarmed capacity to the local defence forces and, no doubt, this help will be invaluable, but nothing appears yet to have been said in respect of the " help and encouragement " which would be afforded by the. presence, also in an unarmed capacity, of skilled medical help. This help could be given without in any way jeopardising the supply of doctors to the regular forces and the civil population, for there is a reservoir of medical skill as yet not fully tapped. I refer to the hundreds of elderly doctors retired from general practice and the services who, nevertheless, possess sufficient health and energy to give up, say, a night or two a week for service with patrols in their own districts.. Some of these patrols are in lonely localities far from help, and casualties among them are sooner or later to be expected. Prompt help on the spot might make all the difference between life- and death.
I would suggest that, in each area, medical men, in the category referred to above, might be canvassed, and panels formed of those able and willing to serve. The members of these would be required to undertake an obligation to serve turn by turn. It would also be a wise precaution to require every local defence volunteer or, at least, every leader-of a troop, to attend a short course of First Aid training especially adapted for the emergencies with which they are likely to meet. The ordinary courses are too long and too elaborate and much dead wood could with advantage be cut away. Besides, time is short.—
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