THE CARE OF SICK BRITISH SEAMEN ABROAD
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
SIR,—There would appear to be grave cause for anxiety concerning the welfare of our sick mercantile marine officers and men, when they are unfortunate enough to fall ill in a foreign port where there is no British hospital.
During the last eighteen months I have been in charge of a sailors' club in Marseilles, under the Mediterranean Mission to Seamen, and my work brought me into close contact with sick seamen. Here there was no British hospital available for their treatment, and the officers and men were for the most part drafted -into private clinics. It was very exceptional for them to be sent to the better-class hospitals. There was thus no British supervision over the patients (I exclude. the official supervision, which proved itself to be absolutely inadequate), and as a result I have personally come across the most distressing cases. Men left unwashed for days, and in some cases weeks together ; beds left unmade, and soiled sheets unchanged ; men left in a grossly dirty state when unable to fend for themselves ; unsuitable food left untouched for hours by the side of bed patients-, &c.,
These are just a few instances, but sufficient, I hope, to stir the imagination to picture the whole scene, especially when men are tended by people who do not even understand their language. Sufficient also, I hope, to persuade those responsible that prompt and adequate improvement is necessary.— Lieut.-Commander R.N. (Retired).
[Unhappily, we have good reason for saying that this picture is not exaggerated. But there is a remedy at Marseilles if shipping companies, all who care for British seamen and the seamen themselves will unite in providing the money needed to open the Marseilles British Merchant Seamen's Hospital. This hospital has been built at a cost of about £50,000, but it stands empty because on account of increased costs £3,000 more are wanted before it can be opened to patients. Dona- tions should be sent to the Hon. Sec. (Rr.-Admiral R. A. Hopwood, C.B., who is also Chairman of the Committee at home) at Barclay's Bank, 1 Pall Mall East, W.—En. Spectator.]
Previous page
