B.Y.O. tea, coffee to hospitals

Press, 22 July 1989, Page 9

B.Y.O. tea, coffee to hospitals

PA Auckland 8.Y.0. has taken on a new meaning for pregnant women at Auckland maternity hospitals. Women booked to give birth at the Waitakere, St Helens and National Women’s hospitals are now expected to bring more than their best nighties and toothbrush. All three hospitals now ask pregnant women to bring their own toilet paper — normal for them and extra soft for the baby — baby soap and ballpoint pen.

National Women’s asks women to pack tea bags, coffee or Milo, and their own mug and teaspoon. The hospitals will also no longer supply women with maternity sanitary pads.

National Women’s Hospital’s principal nurse, Mrs Edna Davis, said the list contained suggestions for women. Some of the items, like toilet rolls and tea bags, had been put on the list to try to save the hospital money.

Christchurch pregnant women were not being asked to bring their own tea, coffee or toilet paper to maternity hospitals, said the Canterbury Area Health Board’s general manager, Mr Ron Parker, yesterday.

No decisions to make such cost saving measures had been taken by the board, he said. Maternity hospitals had traditionally always asked women to supply their own nighties and toilet gear, but that was all.