Mothers Said To Be Cold In Country Hospital Beds

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28930, 25 June 1959, Page 17

Mothers Said To Be Cold In Country Hospital Beds

A proposed ban, as a precautionary measure, on the use I in institutions of the North Can-1 terbury Hospital Board of patients’ own electric blankets was opposed by country members on the grounds of the coldness of country hospitals at yesterday’s meeting of the board. A recommendation prohibiting use of the blankets from the finance committee, after a request for permission by a matron, was referred back to the institutions committee. He had read the recommendation with a great deal of disgust, said Mr G. C. Warren. He did not know the matron who had made the request but he commended her for trying to help out the patients in country hospitals. The Darfield hospital had been enlarged from four to eight beds and the porches had no heat. Patients, with every right, complained bitterly. The women missed their electric blankets when in hospital, he said. The worst thing was that babies were taken from warm nurseries to be fed and it was pathetic to see the way the mothers were trying to keep them warm. Fathers who visited the hospital were also cold. “Everything to Cashmere” “We are giving everything to the Cashmere hospital and some consideration should, be given to these women m country hospitals.” said Mr Warren. “We have a mighty lot of snow up Darfield way and it is bitterly cold." Mr H. A. Bennett said he would miss his electric blanket on cold nights. He thought the matron making the the request was at the Rangiora hospital, which was the coldest in New Zealand. The patients were not asking the

board to provide the blankets and they should not be denied use of their own blankets. Mr V. J. Corbett said he failed to see why the blankets should be banned at country hospitals. Electric blankets were as safe as hot-water bottles, and also more convenient. Country hospitals did not have central heating as in the main hospitals. “I have spent some very cold nights in North Canterbury once the water bottles have gone cold,” said Mr B. Webb, supporting the three country members. Speaking as a mother of seven. Mrs C. Boyd suggested that the board would have to provide heating for country fathers instead of mothers. The finance committee had to look at the request on the question of responsibility, said the chairman (Dr. L. C. L. Averill). Were electric blankets perfectly safe? If a hospital caught fire, the lives of patients, Including babies, would be endangered. Sympathetic as it was to those in frigid, arctic areas, the board had to proceed cautiously. “I wonder how these country people got on when there were no electric blankets,” said Mr I* Christie (chairman of the finance committee). The question was not one of the board using safe blankets but of patients bringing their own blankets. Most damage to them was caused by shifting them. Any claim for damages would have to be ironed out by the finance committee. If he had to spend a night in a country hospital he would not take his blanket, because he was not as cold blooded as the country people. Mr Warren: I would give you something out of a bottle instead.