BED SHORTAGE?

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 13, 16 January 1941, Page 10

BED SHORTAGE?

MATERNITY CASES. CONDITIONS IN AUCKLAND. Following upon news that Wellington maternity homes were fully reserved for the next six months, and that some hospitals were even taking bookings for August and. September, inquiries were made in Auckland this, morning as to whether the position was the same here. It was considered by matrons in Wellington that the acute shortage of maternity accommodation, which began shortly after the social security legislation came into operation, was aggravated by an increase in the birthrate, since the beginning of the war. The comments of various nursing home matrons in Auckland, however, -were varied. The majority said that they were certainly busier than formerly, but they did not attribute it to the fact that eocial security had allowed, more women to enter hospitals rather than remain at home. There were many, of course, who would in formej- years have gone to St. Helens Hospital and could now afford to pay the fees of a maternity home. But, generally speaking, the reason was that both doctors and mothers preferred confinements to be in hospitals rather than at home, since the mother was given more attention and had the advantage of modern conveniences. One matron pointed out that even if a woman wanted to have her child at home, she would still not have to pay a nurse under the new legislation, so that the matter of fees would not weigh heavily. "If the work were more evenly distributed over all the maternity homes in Auckland there would not be this rush in booking, -which so alarms eve.ryone," was the opinion of a matron of a large hospital. "Women should be allowed to choose their own hospital instead of being told by their doctors which one to enter. For instance, recently I heard two people say that they could not find a home anywhere in Auckland, yet I had three vacant beds at the time, and I can always put up three more if necessary." This matron said that she thought the social security had had a certain amount of effect, but that better conditions were also responsible for more young people marrying and having children. She said that, as far as her hospital was concerned, the birth rate had gone up. The matron of one well-known hospital confirmed that her beds were all reserved up till next August, but that this position was not out of the ordinary for her. "Wβ haven't noticed that the war has affected the birthrate," said another matron. "We have had only two or three war babies. More young men eeem to be getting engaged rather than marrying."