MOTHERS’ CHAIR APPEAL

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XX, Issue 75, 12 March 1930, Page 5

MOTHERS’ CHAIR APPEAL

AMOUNTS ALREADY RAISED.

Stratford, March 11

In connection with a decision of the Stratford Hospital Board to make a donation ot £lO to- the Obstetrical Society’s appeal for funds, the secretary of the Obstetrical Society, Dr. Dora Gordon, points out that it is a matter of especial importance to hospital boards, not only for the reason that it would ultimately reduce maternal mortality and stillbirth, but would shortly lessen the incidence of ill health consequent upon confinement, and should therefore effect a reduction in the num her of women occupying hospital beds throughout New Zealand for the treatment and correction of disabilities that have hitherto followed too often upon women’s natural duty of motherhood.

In reply to a question as to how far the new scheme would provide for full instruction in ante-natal care, Dr. Gordon said that of 40 beds to be provided in the new- hospital, it was estimated that 25 to 30 would be occupied by confinement cases, and the remainder would be reserved for patients needing treatment in their ante-natal period, thus giving the coming doctor fuller facilities for studj’ of complications likely to arise at such a period. Furthermore, it was first because of the need for the education of students in antenatal methods, which have made rapid strides, that it was now considered necessary for the incoming professor at the Otago Medical School to be a full teacher so that he would have more time to devote to the instruction of his students in the most up-to-date methods of ante-natal work.

Dr. Gordon has been advised that the following amounts have been raised:—New Plymouth, £400; Wanganui, £400; Marton, £138; Palmerston North, £300; Mastcrtoa, £l6O.