Document K6JKJrON6Gp53Mv5G8pyxvR5Q

ddVct Dr. Bruce Hunt, 37 Ord Street, 'VEST PERTH. 26th July, 1961. Dear Dr. Hunt, Possible Visit of Dr. Rennie Following our discussion. It Is thought that Dr* Rennie would need to - (a) spend some time In Perth In discussion; and examination of case histories and chest x-rays of employees and ex-employees, (b) visit Wlttenoom, (c) probably have further discussions in Perth. The U**!*A* timetable (which is enclosed) does not readily lend itself to this programme* There are four weekly return trips* Of these, the plane leaving on Sunday at 5*15 p.m* would predicate the need for spending the weekend in '"ittenoom - not desirable* The plane leav ing on Saturday at 11*25 a*nu stays overnight at Ifeekatharra to arrive in Perth after midday on Sunday - also not desir able* This leaves, then, planes leaving on Tuesday and Wednesday* of the two the Wednesday trip (Fokker Friend ship) is the faster* This limits the days for leaving Perth to Sunday and Tuesday* Leaving on Sunday would mean arriving in Wlttenoom at 8*45 a*n. No doubt the day could be pleasantly spent having a look at the Gorge and/or preliminary discussions* Monday and half of Tuesday could then be spent in wlttenoom, departing thence at 1*30 p.m. on Tuesday* This would presuppose spending Saturday in Perth on item (a) above,which would, in tum, indicate the need for leaving Sydney on the Friday* (There is, in fact, an A.H.A. service which leaves Sydney at U p*m. on Friday, arriving in Perth at 9*25 p.m.)* I do not think that this would be practicable. In the first place it would probably be too much of a ruch for Dr. Rennie, and Cent *d .2. secondly, It might he difficult to get together on Saturday afternoon several people from several hospitals who would probably wish to present their own cases* This leaves hut one alternative To leave for Wittenooa on a Tuesday at 6.45 or 7.30 a.m., arriving there at 1.10 p.a. The return trip would have to he made on the following day, leaving wittenooa at 1*10 p.m. via the Fofcker Friendship. This would give little less than 24 hours in Wittenooa, which, if carefully planned, would probably suffice for the purpose. It would he necessary to use the Tuesday after noon for inspection, the evening would have to be spent in discussions with management, and, on the following morning, Wednesday, the inspection, could-be continued#. It might he desirable for a ventilation engineer to stay for a longer period but I think that this time would he sufficient to allow Dr. Rennie a reasonable appraisal of working conditions. With this programme he could come over in the weekend on Saturday or Sunday, spend Monday with us here in Perth (see (a) on previous page) and, if need he, spend further time with us on Thursday and/or Friday. It does not sees practicable to consider the possibility of returning, via Roeboume, on Friday. The plane leaves at 7*55 a.m. and it Is approximately 180 miles by road from Wlttenoom to Roeboume. I have requested Dr. Elphlck of the Perth Chest Hospital and Dr. Harris of the Repatriation General Hospital to let me have a list of cases of asbestosls which have been admitted to their wards. These will include cases which are complicated by silicosis. Royal Perth Hospital has no record of any admissions but I know of a'reccnt one which has not yet had time to be classified in records. In addition them will be cases known to Dr. ''c'Tulty and possibly one or two from the Chest Clinic not known to him. I also know of at least one referred by a colleague, not on Dr. McNulty's list. By the time that Dr. 'fc!Tulty returns from his c I d. . -------3 c 2225 trip to Darwin and '.'.'ittenoom, we should have more detailed information., when the occasion arises I shall communicate with you again. Yours sincerely. (D.D, Letham) PHYSICIAN DEPARTMENT OP PUBLIC HEALTH,