Standard Rules For Infant Care

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30121, 3 May 1963, Page 12

Standard Rules For Infant Care

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, May 2

In future all mothers and new-born infants in New Zealand will be cared for under a standard set of regulations. This is the effect of a regulation gazetted tonight under the Hospitals Act, 1939.

The regulation brings together all existing regulations dealing with obstetrics. However, it is much wider in scope in its application to hospitals. It will apply to private maternity hospitals, maternity hospitals which are separate institutions, and maternity hospitals and maternity wards under the control of hospital boards. At present the regulations are varied. They include those governing nurses and midwi' es, private hospitals and hospitals, and charitable institutions. The last named date back to 1926. The move to standardise the regulations was first made in 1948 at a conference convened by Miss M. B. Howard. M.P Those attending included representatives of the Registered Nurses’ Association, Hospital Boards’ Association, Hospital Medical Superintendents’ Association.

Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society, University of Otago, Plunket Society and Department of Health. A remit was passed that every mother and new-born infant should be cared for under a standard set of regulations. The matter has been raised by several womens organisations during the last few years.