MATERNITY HOSPITALS

Evening Star, Issue 25956, 22 November 1946, Page 6

MATERNITY HOSPITALS

" LA ROCHELLE " NOT TO CLOSE In the course of his comment, published in our issue of Wednesday last, on the question of the purchase of Stafford Hospital, Dr D. G. McMillan, chairman of the Otago Hospital Board; stated that “.Verv few people realised the desperate position that the maternity services would be in when Nurse Ross’s maternity home closed next March.” We have received from Messrs Tonkinson and Wood, acting for Miss E. D. Ross, who owns “La Rochelle ” Maternit'- Hospital, the following disclaimer, which we are asked to publish:— Through her solicitors Nurse Ross advises us that Dr McMillan had no authority or justification for making the statement as reported by us that her hospital would be closing on March 31 next. Her solicitors advise that Miss Ross desires to retire from business and has offered her hospital for sale, and if a purchaser Could be found there would he. no necessity for “ La Rochelle ” to close at all. Dr McMillan’s statement has caused Miss Ross considerable embarrassment and has also caused anxiety to numerous patients who have booked accommodation ahead of March.”