DOCTOR SAYS SHE RESIGNED BECAUSE OF THREAT TO MEDICAL STANDARDS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22730, 31 August 1948, Page 6

DOCTOR SAYS SHE RESIGNED BECAUSE OF THREAT TO MEDICAL STANDARDS

(P.A.)

AUCKLAND, August 30,

The intention of some pressure groups to alter the Dominion’s standards of maternal and infant care was one of the major reasons why Dr. Doris Gordon resigned recently from the post of Director of Maternal and Infant Welfare.

She states this in a letter to the editor of the New Zealand Herald, in which she attacks t.he Auckland Hospital Board’s proposal to place two or three holding beds for casualty or urgency cases in the Devonport obstetric hospital. Formerly Pentlands Hospital it has been purchased by the board. In her letter, Dr. Gordon asks whether the holding beds are to accommodate casualty or urgency cases for one night until the morning ferry takes them on toward the city hospital, or whether it is intended that some cases may remain two, three, or more days in "the maternity hospital. Danger of Infection

She also asks what types of eases will find their way into the maternity hospital. After describing the harassing time she considers mothers would have in the event of a late accident case being brought into hospital during the night, Dr. Gordon points out that roadside accidents are the worst bacteriological risks, because germs from road dust are usually ground into the clothing and person of the injured. If the spores of tetanus' were once introduced into the maternity hospital, she says, they might intect new born infants months later. Second in frequency for admission to the holding beds would be the group representative of burning, explosive and machinery accidents, and they would bring a high risk of introducing staphylococci into the maternity section. Sound, Scientific Reason

“Not without sound scientific reason has this Dominion followed the policy in the last 25 years of isolating maternity cases from surgical and accident work,” she states. "Why now, in 1948, make a volte face and consent to the expenditure of £IBOO in renovating a hospital for maternity purposes and simultaneously agree to run the risks of introducing staphylococci, _ streptococci or tetanus into the institution? "Apart from these frank bacteriological risks, has the Auckland Hospital Board had due time to consider the psychology of mothers, and the threat involved to the whole New Zealand obstetrical service if they arc permitted to go ahead and establish this small mixed hospital? "If the most influential board is permitted to set up this mixed hospital,” states Dr. Gordon, “all standards of obstetrical care are jeopardised and the nurses' and midwives’ board can cancel its two booklets on maternity nursing. 'Further, the Director-General of Health can circularise all his thoroughly perplexed medical officers of health, to continue putting telescopes to blind eyes when they think they see any infringement of former obstetrical standards and rules.” Standards Being Sabotaged

Late in May, when discussing with the Prime Minister and the former Minister of Health, Mr. A. H. Nordmeyer, the many and varied threats to the high ideals of the maternity service with which the late Mr. Savage led his party into office, she was able to show them how standards were being sabotaged and how personal privacy and consideration were at times sadly lacking, Dr. Gordon says. Mr. Fraser was instantly appreciative of the risks of juggling with standards. Dr Gordon states that she told Mr. Fraser that a move was afoot to have Pentlands relicensed for maternity cases and also to accommodate emergency or accident cases. Mr. Fraser leaned forward quickly and asked, “Have you managed to stop the issue of the license?” Her reply was that it was stopped for the time being, but that no one knew these days what groups without or cells within would bring pressure to bear tomorrow.