Regular nursing care for all children

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33883, 1 July 1975, Page 31

Regular nursing care for all children

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, June 30.

New obstetric regulations which are intended to ensure that all children have the opportunity to reach their full potential will come into force tomorrow, the Minister of Health (Mr McGuigan) said.

The new regulations reflected considerable change in obstetric care, he said, in an address to a South Auckland seminar on community health problems* about proposals in the White Paper on Health, and imeasures the Government was taking to improve health care.

“It is planned that every child wil have regular nursing supervision, carried out as at present by public health and Plunket nurses,” Mr McGuigan said.

“Infants will have not only a medical examination at or about the time of the mother’s post-natal examination but also at nine months of age. “In addition, medical officers of the Health Department will examine all children between the ages of four and five, who have some handicap, to ensure correct educational placement.” he said. HEALTH ASSISTANTS

A health-assistants scheme he had recently approved would provide for health assistants supporting - public health nurses and other detrimental staff, and relieve >•865 of routine duties, ee positions for health istants had been establed in the greater Auckid area, and more would established* as experience the scheme grew.

Mr McGuigan said that he vas especially concerned about the problems of community health work in the South Auckland area with its large Polynesian population. "Special regard will, therefore, be given to recruiting suitable health assistants from the various Pacific Island groups living in New Zealand,” he said. “These appointments will form part of a pilot scheme which, if successful, will be extended. I feel confident that it will succeed,” Mr McGuigan said.

AUCKLAND EXPANSION "As well as the provision of assistants, the public health nurse staff of greater Auckland has been expanded. In the last 12 months, eight new posts for public health nurses have been created.”

The Government was also encouraging doctors to practise in areas of greatest need by offering incentives such as health centres. Immunisation programmes were being continued, and greater attempts were being made to inform parents of the bene-

fits of having children im-. munised. The Government was concerned that answers must be ! found to the problems of the health services. “We have reached the point in New Zealand where no matter what we do, the existing system of health care cannot cope with all the demands made on it,” Mr McGuigan said. “To correct this situation, the Government believes that fundamental overhaul of the administrative structure of our health service is essential. To do less is merely to tinker with the main problem. FULL RANGE OF CARE “We must bring into a single health service the full range ' of primary health care, specialist, diagnostic, preventive, therapeutic, and rehabilitative services, and environmental health services. It is only by this means that the promotion of

good health as distinct from the treatment of ill health will receive its rightful emphasis.” The proposed changes tn the White Paper were essentially organisational — to develop health services on a regional basis, not “centralised control.” Voluntary services would have the opportunity to contract with regional authorities for the provision of services, and as a result would be largely freed from the burden of raising money. “We want to introduce an all-embracing service ,in which the emphasis is put on the positive aspects of health care —the promotion of environmental health measures, the prevention of illness and accident, health education, greater efforts in rehabilitation, and continuing rather than episodic care of the permanently disabled and handicapped,” Mr McGuigan said.