MATERNITY DEATHS

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 March 1922, Page 3

MATERNITY DEATHS

REDUCING THE RATE, (Special to the Star.) AVELLINGTON, March 6. Some months ago attention was called to the relatively high death-rate among mothers in New Zealand. One of the points brought out was that although the death rate among New Zealand women generally is lower than the general female death rate in Australia, the maternity mortality is much higher than in the Commonwealth. The figures pointed to some remedial cause, and it is satisfactory to find that medical men are prepared to heartily co-operate with the Health Department in an effort to reduce the mortality rate. Discussing this question with your correspondent, the Hon. C. J. Parr, Alinister of Health, expressed gratification that at th erecent conference of the New Zealand branch of the British Aledical Association, the members came to similar conclusions on the subjects of maternity mortality as had the committee of the Board of Health which investigated the question. “The British Aledical Association,” said the Alinister, ‘•make the same recommendations for improvement of the widwifery course in New Zealand, and they also recognise the necessity for improved technique among practitioners, which coincides with the Board of Health proposal

that there should be post graduate or re fresher courses in midwifery for nurses, although the Medical Association goes fur ther and suggests that medical men shoulc have refresher courses in the same sub jcel.” ”1 am very pleased with the Medical Conference's recommendations, and I can a-sii’e you that the Health Department owes a debt of gratitude to the B.M.A. for the thorough manner in which it has investigated the subject and for the excellent spirit shown. The recommendations regarding the work done at the. St. Helen's hospitals will leceive the consideration of the Health Department forthwith. It is suggested by the doctors that where the Department —as is now the g: neral practice—takes steps to investigate the cause of a maternal death, that it .should ask the doctor concerned for a confidential report. This request will receive careful consideration. “The Conference,” added the Alinister. “made a very sweeping recommendation in regard to nursing homes anti hospitals for maternity cases. They suggest that it seems impossible as a- rule, to get satistact >rv service at small private hospitals of this class, and they think that theer ought to he well equipped hospitals for maternity cases, either in connection with the St. Helen's hospitals, or maternity wards at the general hospitals, or large private hospitals subsidised by the State. I think most of the recommendations of the , B.M.A. are on the light lines, and they will receive my attention in an appreciative spirit.”