MATERNITY COSTS

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32312, 2 June 1970, Page 16

MATERNITY COSTS

Cheviot The Dearest

j The cost per birth at the Cheviot Maternity Hospital i last year was $B3O. This was nearly three times more than lit cost at Christchurch Women’s Hospital. In his annual report to the I North Canterbury Hospital 'Board, the secretary (Mr J. G. Lauren son) said that the tremendous increase in cost at Cheviot was due to a 22 per: I cent reduction in the number of births. I He said the cost per birth at Cheviot had risen from $632 in 1869 to $B3O, making lit by far the most expensive hospital in the district. Other figures were: Christi church Women’s Hospital I $3OB, Essex $2lB, Akaroa $572, Darfield $195, Ellesmere $353, Kaiapoi $279, Lincoln $l6O, Rangiora $lB7, Waikari $338.

During the last six years the annual average cost per; birth had been lowest at Lin-| 1 coin—sl49 —and highest at I Cheviot—sso2. During the year, 4751 > babies were born in the • board’s hospitals, an increase 1 of 5 per cent. Of these, 2245 • babies were born at Christ- • church Women’s Hospital, 859 t at Essex, 720 at Burwood and 221 at Rangiora.