§ The people of Switzerland have shown their appreciation of the British war effort in many ways and in 1946 the Don Suisse offered to provide, for one year, 100 beds in sanatoria at Leysin, in Switzerland, for the free accommodation and treatment of British ex-Service men suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis.
§ It was arranged that the patients should be selected by the Ministry of Pensions according to clinical criteria agreed with the Swiss doctors. Medical officers of local health authorities were consulted and patients were selected as follows:
§ From Local Authority sanatoria:
| English Counties and County Boroughs | 87 |
| London County Council | 34 |
| Scotland | 21 |
| Wales | 10 |
| 152 | |
| From Service hospitals | 28 |
| 180 |
§ The first hundred patients went to Switzerland in January-February, 1947, in six parties. In August, 1947, 76 patients returned on completion of the agreed period of treatment and 79 others went out. Seven patients returned in December, 1947, and 37 in April, 1948. The remainder came back in small groups, each month, up to 31st August, on which day the scheme ended, having been extended by eight months through the generosity of Don Suisse.
§ The British Consul, Geneva, looked after the general arrangements in Switzerland. He and his staff took great per- 1068 sonal interest in the Scheme and, in conjunction with the local British Legion, raised considerable funds for entertainment. A British ex-Service man, long resident in Leysin, was appointed as my Department's Liaison and Welfare Officer, in which capacity he devoted himself whole-heartedly to the interest of the patients.
§ In the equipping, assembly and transport of the patients many authorities cooperated. Thanks are due to the Swiss Red Cross, the British Red Cross, the County Medical Officer of Health of Kent, and the staff of the County Hospital at Dover, the Matron in Chief, London County Council and the Southern Railway and their agents in France for help in various ways.
§ The patients settled down well. All spoke highly of the medical care they received and with great appreciation of the friendly welcome and kindness shown to them by all with whom they came in contact in Switzerland. These generous actions of the Swiss people have led to many personal contacts which confirm and strengthen the understanding and friendship between our Nations.
§ It is too early to assess the lasting effects of this treatment but the future progress of the patients will be specially noted.