MATERNITY HOSPITAL

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 74, 28 March 1930, Page 15

MATERNITY HOSPITAL

FOR HUTT VALLEY

STKOXG RECOMMENDATION

A letter from the Director-General of Health (Dr. T. H. A. Valhitinc) was read at a mooting of tho Wellington Hospital Board yesterday in which he said:—"l herewith forward copy of a report by the Medical Officer of Health (Dr. AY. F. Findlay), in which he again draws my attention to the,, necessity for a maternity in the Hutt Valley. You will see by Dr. Findlay's report that there are ample reasons why a maternity hospital in .the Hutt Valley should be established at an early date." In liis report, Dr. W. F. Findlay stated:—"Be obstetrical hospital, Hutt Valley. I desire again to represent this matter to you, and. would-suggest that tho time has ■ arriycd:. when' an effort should be made to establish, a maternity institution,: under the ■ Hospital Board, either. at Petone or the Lower Hutt. "The following facts, and 'figures are quoted in support of-the establishment of such a maternity hospital:—For the year 1929, patients from' the localities mentioned were admitted to. St.. Hcl-' ens Hdspi taJ, Wellington, as .'follows:— Lower Hutt, -00; :Petone, 46; Upper Flutt, 14; Eastbourne,. 7; in addition from Ngaip and Kbandallah there were 15 cases. - , .... "At tho Alexandra-Home, -Wellington, 12 cases were admitted■'•■from' the Hutt Valley in . 1929. ,yy- y. .;v ;,., "Within the last two .or three, years,, or longer,' the St. Helens ■Hospital and the Alexandra Home have been" usually filled to capacity. In1 .fact, there have been occasions wii en St. Helens Hospital has accommodated a larger number of patients than -is flesh-able, taking into consideration tile.'-general equipment and facilities. ■■:.■-:. "The establishment of an institution, in the Hutt Valley, would-relieve St. Helens Hospital and- the Alexandra.; Home to at least tho extent, -indicated in the above figures; also, -jitf doubt,, the ante-natal work would be more:l.satisfactory. There.are. two -private.maternity hospitals in the'locality—-one-with six beds and another with, .i.onr. beds. "There is sufficient .population iin the Hutt Valley, Eastbourne, and .adjacent bays to justify the e'rection;of-a niater--uity hospital..':! ;uude.r strand' that'■■•the Wellington' Hospital BparcF-- arp;;.eon-. sidcring the question as• to. whether or not they will" dispose of-a nsi't-c'' lield by them in the Lower :Hutt, :Tv.would suggest that perhaps!the-board "should hold this matter in :abeyance*-pen'ding the possible use of.'the.: .-se6tibi!"fqr a maternity hospital." " ■ ~'",. . The board agreed that the. Medical Superintendent of the Hospital and the Medical Officer of Health Jie,asked, to report upon the suitability' of,:,the. site for a maternity hospital; The area of the land referred to is nine'and a half acres. :'. ' "■.". " Mr. A. J. M'Curdy had given notice to move at the next meeting of the board: —"That the property at Lower Hutt be disposed of to the best advantage, and the proceeds invested on fixed deposit until required for. hospital extension purposes."' . .