DFCP and Danny,
May I refer you to post 2926 on page 147 for a bit of info about National Service pilots.
My arthritic right wrist reminds me of the time at High Ercal which was being used as a temporary flying field whilst the TernHill runway was being resurfaced. We had returned from Christmas leave to begin the Harvard phase of the course and whilst pushing the hangar doors closed my wrist broke (don't ask!) and my first flight was as a passenger to Cosford Hospital. My arm was in plaster from hand to elbow. I was concerned about being recoursed so when the w/cdr surgeon said "use your hand as much as possible" I asked if that meant I could continue flying training he said "I see no reason why not" and wrote a letter to the SMO to that effect. So my first solo in the Harvard was done wth my arm in plaster On the final medical in the RAFVR(T) aged 65 the disbelieving MO found the letter in my docs. It wouldn't happen now.