Christchurch Women’s Hospital

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31786, 17 September 1968, Page 12

Christchurch Women’s Hospital

Sir, —The fact that Christchurch Women’s Hospital will be a training hospital argues for the inclusion of fathers rather than against. If the principle is accepted in New Zealand as overseas—that sonie fathers make an invaluable contribution as members of the birth “team”— then such a father’s presence should be accepted at' any hospital. Nurses whose training at the hospital has denied them the experience of seeing husbands supporting their wives will go to staff hospitals that allow husbands. Here, their attitude that a

husband is “an extra person hindering the staff” is very likely to prejudice any husband's chances of really helping his wife. A choice between a hospital that excludes husbands and a hospital where the staff endures a husband as a nuisance is no real choice for parents.—Yours, etc..

DAVINA GILL (MRS) September 16, 1968.

Sir, —It is disturbing to read that the North Canterbury Hospital Board’s medical Superintendent-in-chief (Dr L. H. McH. Berry) is not prepared to enter into public discussion of the organisation of the Christchurch Women’s Hospital. This hospital is an institution financed by the public for the benefit of the public and as such Dr Berry is responsible to the public. If an issue is controversial it constitutes all the more reason for the establishment of an effective dialogue with the public and should not be used as a means of evasion of responsibilty. If technical matters are involved then the opportunity should be taken to enlighten the public and not to insult the public’s intelligence. This would seem to me to be yet another instance of a publicly-supported institution refusing to justify its practices to the interested public.—Yours etc., B. G. WYBOURNE. September 16, 1968.

Sir, —I wish to add my protest to those who have already questioned the Medical Superintendent-in-chief of the North Canterbury Hospital Board, concerning the rights of patients in Christchurch Women's Hospital. Throughout the recent controversy over whether husbands should be allowed to be present in the theatre during the birth of their own children, he has remained uninformative and evasive. Surely if the board’s policy is based on sound “technical” reasons these could be explained to the public. It is obvious that a number of people are concerned about the blunt refusal to discuss any “controversial” issue and I strongly urge them to continue this protest, so that the demand for such services is recognised. This hospital exists for the needs of the public, and the public should not be forced to consider travelling to outlying hospitals because these needs arr not met. I hope that staff trained in this hospital will not take with them such rigid and outdated policies as appear to exist here.—Yours, etc., CONSUMER. September 16, 1968.