MATERNITY CASESD

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 23, 27 July 1944, Page 4

MATERNITY CASESD

LOCAL ACCOMMODATION

Was the Minister of Health satisfied that the Wellington Hospital Board . Avas providing adequate .facilities for maternity cases in the Wellington area? asked Mr. H. E. Combs (Government, Wellington Suburbs) in an urgent question in the House of Representatives yesterday, Mr. Combs also inquired Avhether the proposed alteration of two wards in the Hutt Hospital Avould meet the needs of mothers residing in Welling- v ton itself, and Avhether he Avould de- ■ One the responsibilities of the Hospital Board and of the Health Department respectively in the matter of maternity accommodation.

The Minister replied that he was satisfied that the arrangements proposed by the Wellington Hospital Board making two wards available at the Hutt Hospital, Avould provide sufficient additional beds to satisfy requirements for the next few years.'He had completed arrangements Avith the __-: Alexandra Home trustees to continue their hospital during the emergency period. The neAV facilities at the Hutt Avill ensure that mothers from that area Avould not require to come to Wellington city, and the beds thus made available could be utilised by mothers in Wellington itself. "It is tlie responsibility of the Hospital Board," added the Minister, "to .*■' provide necessary maternity accommodation. The Health Department has not, hoAvever, in the past required the ' Wellington Hospital Board to provide such accommodation, in view of the fact that a St. Helens Hospital run by 1 the Health Department was function- J ing in the city. As I announced r_T 1 cently, it is intended to build a neAv ' St. Helens, and it is anticipated that ivhen this new institution is completed the board will require to make provision only for those abnormal cases Avhich are more appropriately treated in a public hospital than in a maternity hospital.-' •- ■ {.*