PRIVATE HOSPITALS

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 55, 3 September 1945, Page 7

PRIVATE HOSPITALS

PLACE IN MATERNITY SERVICE

P.A. CHRISTCHURCH, September 2. The Government's policy towards private maternity hospitals was defined by the Minister of Health, Mr. Nord-ieyer, on Saturday afternoon when he spoke before the laying of the foundation stone of the new St. Helens Hospital, in Durham Street, by the Prime Minister. "There is an impression abroad that it is the Government's policy to discourage private maternity hospitals." said Mr. Nordmeyer. "Let me say emphatically that this is definitely untrue." Mr. Nordmeyer referred to the problem the country had had to face owing to the large increase in the birth rate during the last few years. In 1935 the number of confinements in hospitals in New Zealand was 19,000, J and last year it had risen to 34,000. "Last year nearly 2000 mothers were confined in St. Helens Hospitals, nearly 13,000 in public hospitals, and over 19,000 in private hospitals," said Mr. Nordmeyer. ''From these figures you will realise that the private hospitals have played and are playing a j really important part in providing obstetrical services. "We recognise that it would be utterly impossible for the State or the hospital boards to provide the facilities provided today by the private maternity hospitals. We must encourage them, but at the same time, as a Health Department, we must insist on certain standards being maintained. This may cost money, but you will agree that it is in the interests of the mothers of the Dominion that those ! standards should be preserved."