MATERNAL DEATHS

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 81, 5 April 1930, Page 10

MATERNAL DEATHS

NORTH AUCKLAND CASES

(By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post")

AUCKLAND, This Day

Following tho closing of the Paparoa Cottage Hospital as the result.of three or four cases of maternal mortality, which are believed to be duo to septicaemia, a meeting was attended by Dr. E. A. Shaw, of the head office of the Health Department in AVellington, who is to make an investigation of conditions at the hospital.

Dr. Shaw later inspected tho hospital, and will give a report to the board at its mooting on 16th April. Up to the present tho institution has been conducted as a combined general and maternity hospital, and in his report Dr. Shaw will recommend whether the institution should be carried on as one or other of tho two typos. He will also consider all general conditions affecting the position there, and lias been asked to report whether any improvements could bo effected in its present system of running without altering its present operation. ~.

It has been realised by the board that tho operation of the hospital as a mixed maternity and general establishment with only a .small stafli liad given some cause for complaint. The board has stated that there have been too many cases of septicaemia recently, and it invited the Health Department to go into tho whole question and find the root of the trouble.

The most recent death at the hospital from septicaemia was last mouth, and previous to that there were two deaths at the end of last year. Prior to that there had been no eases in tho district for a considerable time.

The Minister of Health (the Hon. A. J. Stallworthy) stated yesterday before he left for Kawakawa that tho Government would spare no endeavour to see that a complete investigation was made into the affairs of the hospital. He could make no comment on the position until tlio report of Dr. Shaw had been received.