Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY, JUNE 10, 1924. MATERNITY WORK.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLIV, Issue 10133, 10 June 1924, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY, JUNE 10, 1924. MATERNITY WORK.

The decision of the Asliburton Hospital Board to make provision for the training of nurses in midwifery is one which will undoubtedly receive universal endorsement. The benefits of the proposal were set out by the Medical Superintendent:— (1) It afforded the mires an opportunity of a complete ■ training- in medicine, surgery, and midwifery; (2) It would further increase the efficiency of the Home; (3) It would increase the number ot nurses in the County trained in maternity work and available to the public, and it was reasonable to assume that a. nurse trained in medicine, surgery, and obstetrics was a greater public asset than one in obstetrics alone; (4) During their training these nurses would be available for confinements in poorer homes, where the services of a qualified nurse could not be obtained; (5) By relieving the present staff at Malvern Home, it would provide opportunity for the establishment of an ante-natal clinic. Just recently much has been heard concerning j\ T ew Zealand's comparatively bad record in the matter of childbirth, maternal mortality. The Commission which inquired into certain cases at the Kelvin Hospital, submitted a valuable report, dealing very largely with the position of private maternity hospitals. It condemned the system under which unsuitable and inadequate-ly-equipped buildings are used as maternity hospitals. In commenting on the report, the Minister for Public Health observed that he was glad the Commission endorsed his view that hospital boards should establish maternity wards for all classes of patients. In commenting on the report of the Commission some clays ago we directed attention to the fact that the Asliburton Board had already anticipated the view of Minister and Commission and had established maternity hospitals in Ashburton, Methven, and Rakaia.

The provision of better and thoroughly up-to-date hospitals, stricter notification of cases of sepsis and keener inspection, are, however, only . part of the problem. There is also room for advancement in the training and technique of doctors and mirses.

This lias been largely admitted by the British Medical Associai tion, especially .the thorough grounding of nurses in principles of asepsis and the need for greater clinical experience. The decision of the Ashburton Hospital Board to provide opportunities for the training of nurses in midwifery may thus be said to be along correct lines. Reforms in connection with this problem will strengthen to the extent to

which they are given public sup-

J port, and it is a hopeful sign ! that the Department has decided to associate itself with Dr. Triiby King and the Plunket Society in launching a campaign for improvement. The splendid sncress which has attended the work of the Plunket Society in the of infant life may be repeated in the case of the mothers and childbirth. j