Mr. POINTERasked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been directed to the case of a sorter in the foreign section who was taken ill while on duty on the evening of 29th January last, and attended the resident medical officer for treatment which was refused on the grounds that as the officer had been slightly unwell for a clay or two preceding and the medical officer on duty was to deal with cases of sudden illness, the patient could wait until the morning; and will he define sudden illness and endeavour to secure adequate and courteous treatment for patients who pay for such in their terms of service?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI am aware of the facts of this case. The officer concerned was asked to return for further1056W medical examination in the morning, because the medical officer wished to examine him by daylight. It was not thought advisable in the patient's interests to give him drugs, which, while temporarily relieving the pain, would mask the symptoms and so hinder accurate diagnosis; but the medical officer satisfied himself that there were no urgent symptoms requiring immediate treatment. I am of opinion that the officer concerned received suitable treatment from the resident medical officer; and the chief medical officer to the Post Office, whom I have consulted in this case, agrees with this view.