Ban On Physiotherapists

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31315, 10 March 1967, Page 1

Ban On Physiotherapists

The main concern of mothers who signed a petition protesting over hospital rulings governing who shall be present at births is over the presence of physiotherapists, according to Mrs G. Drayton, spokeswoman for the group of 150.

“Our main concern was that physiotherapists who trained us through pregnancies were barred by the hospitals from being present during our deliveries,” she said in a statement yesterday. “The wording of the petition asked only that the physiotherapists be allowed at

delivery. The word ‘husbands’ was not mentioned, but came into the subject naturally through controversy. “The physiotherapists are part of the medical team of doctor, nurse, physiotherapist, dietitian, occupational therapist and so on. “If the doctor in charge of the patient, not the hospital, considers his patient will benefit in this care, it is part of the treatment, just as surely as a drug is. “The benefit of a husband being present during labour is great, but presence in the delivery room should depend on all factors which have already been mentioned.” Mrs Drayton said the rights of mothers involved the fact that they paid for the use of the theatre, their private

care, the doctor and the physiotherapist. Why then were they denied this right? she asked.

“Surely mothers should have the best care,” she added. “Our lives are involved and those of our babies. It affects our health, homes and families, and therefore the whole community. “These people* who give this service have a vocation which all the medical team starts with. The patient then should be the concern. The hospital is only the house.” The banning of physiotherapists, the statement said, was believed to be not just confined to private maternity hospitals, but included Essex and St. Helen’s. Why were the majority of women being

deprived of the chance of this care? No date has been set for the projected meeting between doctors and representatives of Calvary Hospital and St George’s Hospital to discuss the ban on husbands and physiotherapists. There has been no relaxation of the ban. The secretary of St George’s (Mr D. R. Smith) said last evening that he could not confirm when 'the meeting would be held. He said that Dr. L. C. L. Averill, the chairman of the St. George’s Hospital Board, was at a conference at New Plymouth and would not be back until next Wednesday. Dr. Averill would make the arrangements when he returned.