Evening star., 1945-01-30
Letters to The Star
Readers Differ With Mrs. Bolton
About Walter Reed Nurses
To the Editor Of The Star:

To the Editor Of The Star.
read with amazement In The Star
Of January % an account of Representa-
tive Bottoms cursory inspection trip"
through Walter Reed Hospital and her
alleged discovery of the special duty
nurses assigned to the wives of officers
and soldiers Of the United States Army
who were patients at the time. A morn
ing paper stated that the executive
officer of the hospital properly denied
this accusation.
From some recent contact with Walter
Reed as frequent visitor (never at
any time as patient) I have observed
that nearly all special duty nurses are
little more than practical nurses" I"
hired privately by the patients them
selves from outside, and are not Army
nurses. In most cases they are little
more than nurses aides" This situa-
ton existed even in 1910. At this pres
ent time I know that the hospital is
very crowded; only certain amount Of
space is allotted for the immediate fam
lilies of the military personnel of the
Army and when exhausted, such FAM
lilies, including wives, must wait their
turn or go elsewhere even in emergency.
There are very few nurses available,
special nurses being almost nonexistent
even at private expense due to the gen.
eral shortage, and the rooms are occu-
pied by several patients, often seriously
i'll, and adding to the discomfort of
other patients. This is just and neces-
sary because of the increase in the
armed forces and the fact that every
one rightly feels that the fighting men
must come first.
aware of another condition which helps
to overtax the service hospitals. For
many years it has been the privilege of
members of Congress, the President.
cabinet officers and their families, as
well as many lesser officials, to take
advantage of the excellent services cat
no expense to them of the Medical
Corps of the services and hospitaliza-
ton hereunder. This is favor and
not in accordance with the law which
allows medical treatment only to fam
lilies Of the personnel of the armed
forces, and is strictly construed by the
Army Medical Corps with regard to
such families.
About three years ago, while passing
through ward for women at Walter
Reed, 1 noticed nameplate and after
it the legend "Sister-in-Law of Con-
gresham Blank" as her justification for
occupying bed there. No such rela-
tive of an officer or soldier of the Army
would be allowed to receive treatment.
. One Of the Presidents close aides, re-
siding in the White House at the time,
was a patient for months at service
hospitals. When questioned regarding
his right to this treatment, he stated for
the press that "he paid for it." This
Is an impossibility, for no provision
exists for paying for such treatment.
You are either entitled to 1t by law or
you are not. What the aide probably
was referring to was the mess bill, a
nominal sum, under 50 a day, which
covers nothing but actual food.
If Mrs. Bolton could do something to
prohibit wealthy cabinet officers, their
families and relatives from taxing the
Army Medical Corps, she would render
a great service to the taxpayers and to
persons who honestly are entitled to
such treatment.
DAUGHTER OF A REGULAR
ADNru