Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. MONDAY, JUNE 26th, 1922. REWA HOSPITAL.

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 June 1922, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. MONDAY, JUNE 26th, 1922. REWA HOSPITAL.

It will be generally agreed that the Hospital Board did well in deciding to' hold a special enquiry into the administration of Bewa Hospital, and all will hope that'a result will be to remove any misunderstandings. ’ The committee’s aim will not be eagerness to' discover a scapegoat, nor to “white-wash” any who may have been at fault, but to find out, if possible, why so well-equipped a maternity home is not apparently, over-popular among those for whom it caters. Those who “barracked” for Bewa beiiig made available were naturally eager to see complete success and appreciation rewarding the Board’s enterprise. The comUients' made by members of the Board, at a previous meeting, to

the effect that the hospital was not getting its fair Quota of ■ patients, were disappointing to llewa’s well-wishers, among , whom, surely the “Star” can • claim to be included. It came to our knowledge that certain criticisms (or gossip) concerning llewa were being exchanged mainly among women, and solely with, a desire to safeguard Itewa, and to disprove such comments, we brought the rumours under the notice of the Chairman of the Board, suggesting that the publication of an otneial statement would re-assure prospective patients. We make this explanation so that there should be no misunderstanding as to the “Star’s” attitude. ft would, of course, have been a breach of confidence for this newspaper to have given the sources of the information supplied to it, and equally of course, no member of the Hospital Board expected to be told who our informants were. The committee of inquiry has no easy problem to solve, and its report will be awaited with keen interest. Meanwhile, an appeal can be made to expectant mothers to give preference to Itewa. It is not encouraging to those desirous of having available the best of attention for women and babies, if when such attention is forthcoming, it is ignored, and passed over for something less satisfactory. Rewa's scheduled charges cannot be considered high in comparison with those made at similar modernly equipped institutions, and those wives who cannot afford even the scheduled charges, are not therefore barred from llewa. It was clear from the beginning that llewa would not pay for itself, but it was certainly expected that the benefits it offered would be freely patronised. Good should certainly come from last week's discussion by the Board, as it will tend to discourage any careless gossip, and should help women tobe fairer to Itewa when making necessary arrangements. A more or less empty llewa will discourage -the erection of a permanent maternity hospital, for which a good site has already' been donated. None with the true welfare of the district’s women and children at heart desires to see any return to the scandalous condition of affairs in pre-Hewa days, especially as the district- nurse’s services have been lost. It is to- be regretted that a greater effort was not made to retain some form of district nursing service. The closiug'of “unregistered” homes may have the effect of increasing the number of non-paying patients at llewa, women who could have been treated .much cheaper by a qualified district nurse at their own homes, a treatment some would prefer. Where maternity is concerned, psychology is not the least important factor to be considered, and what seems tittle-tattle or mere trifles to laymen may be of serious importance.