MATERNITY SERVICE

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 55, 28 November 1930, Page 12

MATERNITY SERVICE

Wellington-Hutt Area A NEW PROPOSAL Hospital and St. Helens “NOT BOARD’S FUNCTION” Strong opposition to a suggestion by the Health Department that the Wellington Hospital should provide a maternity service for the Wellington and Petone-Hutt district to supplement the St. Helens hospital service, was expressed at a meeting of the Hospital Board yesterday. It was contended that the founder of St. Helens Homes, the late Mr. Seddon, never intended that this branch of social service should bo carried on by hospital boards. The matter was brought before the board in a letter from the department, dated November 12, in which it was stated that it had been estimated on the data available (which, however, could be relied upon as being quite complete), that approximately 200 patients per annum who applied to St. Helens for attention, and could not be admitted, would have to be otherwise provided for, and under the present condition of lack of employment, there was likely to be an increase in the number of those cases requiring some form of low-priced maternity serVl< lt appeared that a district midwife was required for Wellington, and in her case, if co-operation with the St. Helens scheme was obtained, the only services to be given would be (a) visiting the houses of proposed district patients and reporting whether they were suitable places for the patient to be attended in or not; and (b) arranging for and giving the attendance to those patients who could be left m their own homes. Provision would also have to be. made for medical attendance on any district eases which developed unforeseen abnormal conditions. In the Hutt-Petone district it appeared that a somewhat more extensive scheme would be required, since full use of the St. Helens ante-natal clinic was not likely to be taken advantage of at that distance. It would consequently be advisable for a resident midwife to be provided who would have available room to conduct an ante-natal clinic and also for arrangements to be made for medical supervision of the clinic. The department was desirous of cooperating with the board in this scheme, and was prepared, provided arrangements could be made to house them, to offer the services of one or two advanced trainees from St. Helens Hospital to assist at the Hutt-Petone maternity centre, and to cooperate with the district midwife appointed for Wellington. It was anticipated that the scheme outlined above would cost about £750 per annum, exclusive of medical services, which should not amount to a very great sum. From the gross cost could be deducted the fees receivable from patients able to pay. Patients and Accommodation. In another letter, dated November 24, the department informed the board that the number of births in Wellington city for the year ended December 31, 1929, was 2177 and in the Hutt Valley and Petone 454. The number of beds available in St. Helens and all private hospitals in Wellington was 51 and in the Hutt Valley and Petone 13. The number of patients admitted to all maternity hospitals in Wellington was 1818 and in the Hutt Valley and Petone 183. The number of out-patients at St. Helens was 50 and at Alexandra Home 36. The medical officer of Health for Wellington had reported that for the year ended December 31, 1929, 60 cases were admitted to St. Helens and the Alex; andra Home from Lower Hutt, 46 from Petone, 14 from Upper Hutt, and 7 from Eastbourne. Founder’s Intentions. Mr. C. M. Luke said he claimed to know something of the mind of ihe late Mr. Seddon in regard to the establishment of St. Helens Homes. Mr. beddon intended these maternity homes to be a direct and special service from the State to the wives of men with small incomes He was sure that it was never his intention that this branch of social service should be carried on by hospital boards. • As to St. Helens nurses attending certain cases in their own homes, Mr. Luke said he was thoroughly in accord with that part of the scheme. For that purpose he was of opinion that in the cities and larger towns a panel of medical men, particularly those specialising in such work, should be engaged, and should be available to be called on; but as to the service rendered by skilful midwives, St. Helens Hospital had all the organisation and experience necessary. Strong Objections. There were two very strong reasons against hospital boards undertaking the maternity service, continued Mr. Luke. One related to organisation and the other to finance. The public hospitals in the cities and larger towns were fully occupied in attending to sick and accident eases. Moreover, they had no obstetric organisation whatever, and no specially trained maternity nurses. Therefore the general hospitals were not qualified to undertake such work. It might be replied that the requisite trained service could be engaged. To do that would not only be expensive but would mean duplicating, in some eases, an organisation already in existence. There was another objection. His experience Ted him to believe that it was impossible for medical superintendents and matrons to undertake a task of such magnitude in addition to general hospital work. He thought that it was unreasonable to seek to place on hospital boards the financial responsibility of such a large additional branch of social service. Auckland Arrangement. Mr. Luke said he had been surprised to read in tho newspapers that some arrangement had been arrived at between the Minister and the Auckland Hospital Board in regard to St. Helens Hospital. Mrs. P. Fraser: The Minister does not reside in Wellington. Mr. Luke (turning to the reporters) : No. I repeat that. The Minister does not reside in Wellington. We are told that some solution has been arrived at between the department and the Auckland board. All I can say is that if the chairman of the Auckland Hospital Board acted in his capacity as president of the Hospital Boards’ Association then “He has no right to he chairman, suggested Mr. A. J. McCurdy. Mr. Luke: No, I do not say that. I say it is irregular and most improper. If the Auckland arrangement is to be the thin edge of the wedge then it is time we looked seriously into the position we occupy. Mrs. Fraser said the board should go a stage further and wait upon the Minister. The seriousness of the position could not be over-emphasised. The chairman, Mr, F. Castle: I take it you are agreed the function of hospital boards is not to provide district nurses? , . , Voices: No, that isnot their function. It was decided to send the following remit to the annual conference of the Hospital Boards’ Association: “That the question of the administration of St. Helens Hospitals, having regard to the new phase as suggested by a letter from the Health Department, receive the serious consideration of the Hospital Boards Association.”