STATE INQUIRY

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 53, 4 March 1937, Page 10

STATE INQUIRY

MATERNITY SERVICES

COMMITTEE SET UP.

ORDER OF REFERENCE

The decision of the Government to hold an inquiry into the maternity services of New Zealand was announced today by the Bliriister of Health (the Hon. P. Fraser). The Minister also announced that the committee set up in August last to inquire into the question of septic abortion in New Zealand had now concluded its work, and the chairman (Dr. D. G. McMillan, M.P.), had placed the committee's report in his hands. It was expected that this report will be published shortly.' ;

The members of the committee were: Dr. D. G. McMillan, M.P. <chairman). :

Dr. T.. F. Corkill, president of tha Obstetrical Society of New Zealand (Wellington). •

Dr. Sylvia Chapman, medical super* intendent of St. Helens Hospital (Wel« lington). ,

Mrs. P. Fraser (Wellington)

Dr. T. L. Paget, Inspector of Privata Hospitals. Health Department (Weilirig-

Mr. Fras.er said that the Government had now decided to appoint the members of this committee, together with two additional members—Mrs. "A. M. Hutchinson, branch secretary, New

Zealand Society for Health of Women and Children (Auckland) and Mrs. N. G. Kent-Johnston, secretary of tha Friends of St. Helens' Society (Christchurch) —as a committee of inquiry into the maternity services of New Zealand in the following order of reference:—

(1) To inquire generally into and report upon matter affecting the maternity services of the Dominion and to put forward any relevant recommendations. ■ ■..-.

(2) In particular to inquire into and report:—

(a) Whether the maternity hospital services of the Dominion are adequate and efficient in respect of:— (1) Maternity hospitals and maternity wards established by hospital boards. : /(2) Maternity hospitals maintained by the Government. .' (3) Private maternity hospitals.

(b) Whether the ante-natal and post-natal services of the Dominion are adequate and, if not, in what respects they should be extended.

i (c) Whether the organised district nursing services which afford a maternity service are adequate and satisfactory. . . .

(d) The extent to which anaesthetics are administered to women in. childbirth in public maternity hospitals and whether this procedure should be extended.

(c) Whether there should be a resident medical officer attached to the staff of the larger public maternity, hospitals.

(f) Whether the maternity services provided for the v Maori ,race are adequate, and if not, how they ; should be extended. . ■ . .._..,. ;

(g) Whether the training of mid* wives and maternity- nurses is sat-. isfactory and adequate, arid whethef the number of persons who are being trained' is- sufficient for the needs of the Dominion.

The committee. would take evidence in Wellington and in other centres which would be announced' later and any persons or organisations desirous of giving evidence or submitting their views are requested to communicate with the secretary of the committee, care the Department of Health, Wellington.