MATERNITY CASES

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 153, 14 June 1932, Page 9

MATERNITY CASES

REOPENING McHARDY HOME DEPARTMENT’S ALTERNATIVE H.B. BOARD’S OPPOSITION The re-establishment of the McHardy Home was dealt with in a letter from Dr ,T. N. Paget, inspector of private hospitals for tlio Health Department, received by the Hawke’s Bay Hospital Board yesterday afternoon. Dr. Paget’s recommendations, which were supported by Dr M. H. Watt, Direc-tor-General of Health, were that prior to further consideration of the reopening of the McHardy Home a district nursing service should be organised and given a fair and full trial. The letter from Dr. Paget stated inter alia: “Consideration ot the question of the re-opening of the McHardy Home is intimately connected with the question of a district maternity nursing service in -Napier (possibly also m Hastings) to supplement the use ot the Soldiers’ Memorial nospiti cm ting ilirs bos pital since the earthquake has been subject to serious overcrowding. “The proposal now is to re-open the McHardy Home which, if done, would undoubtedly enable the admissions to the Soldiers’ Memorial Maternity Hospital, Hastings, to be reduced, but at a cost which is quite unjustifiable in view of the fact that a properly organised district maternity service would give all the essential benefits with a saving of between £lOOO and £l5OO per annum. The estimated capital cost of re-establishing the McHardy Home as a maternity hospital is about £250 or £3OO without taking into consideration general renovations, .-furnishing and equipment. COST OF HOSPITAL. “The cost of this maternity hospital for its last three years has been as follows: 1928-1929, £3052, less fees collected £928, net cost £2024; 19291930, £3048, less fees collected £909, net cost £2138; 1930-31, £2620, less fees collected £684, net cost £1936 (10 months only) “I advise that an officer of this department should meet all parties concerned. There will doubtless be difficulties By dealing with them m a spirit of compromise they can be overcome and 1 have no doufit that a very large saving to the ratepayers and taxpayers with a maternity service thoroughly satisfactory to everybody can be established if the matter is handled in the right way. “There should be no unnecessary delay in establishing this service as the Hastings Memorial Hospital is being dangerously overcrowded, a condition which must eventually lead to disaster and is a most unfair strain upon the medical and nursing staff. “The present time demands the utmost economy even at the cost of some inconvenience and the sacrifice of such luxuries as universal hospital attendance for those who prefer it as a means of saving trouble in the home.”

“There is no doubt a lot in what Dr. Paget says,” stated Mr 0. Duff when tho board discussed tho letter, “but what are the terms of the trust of our maternity buildings?” The chairman (Mr C. O. Morse): We have to use it for maternity work. Mr Duff: If we wanted to, could wo lease the McHardy Home? Mr Morse: The board could if it got the consent of the descendants of the McHardy family. NO CONFIDENCE IN DEPARTMENT “I haven’t the slightest and remotest confidence in the recommendations of the department,” said Mr Duff. He went on to say that the department, if it wanted to make these recommendations, should have done so two years ago. The idea of the district nurse at Hastings had in the first place to be forced upon the department, having originated from the medical superintendent. “The department is changing its ideas every day,” he concluded.

“I am of the opinion that the McHardy Home should remain,” said Mr Morse. “Wo should have opened it and then told tho department that wo had done so.” If the board could make the McHardy Homo revenue-producing, said Mr Duff, a maternity ward should be built as near as possible to the main hospital. Tho department had objected to that two years ago, but now it said that that was desirable. “We don’t know where wc are,” he said.

“We should be open to reason, but at the same time I think we should reopen the home,” said Mr Morse in moving that the board endeavour to arrange the conference as suggested.

Mr Duff: If wo had sufficient medical men and women, we could keep all the cases in their own homes, but that would be a new development.

“Can we divorce this from tho rest of our policy in Napier and Hastings?” asked Dr. H. M. Wilson. “It is one composite whole. Can’t we get tho Minister and tho department hero and clean all these matters up?” Mr Duff: They want to close the Memorial Hospital and open it up as a maternity hospital. “Suppose wo decided to open the McHardy Homo, could they stop us?” asked Mr H. V. Hoadloy.

The chairman said that he would agree to tho board going ahead with opening the hospital, but the difficulty was that in view of tho expense involved application would have to be made to Wellington. “It seems to mo that the McHardy Homo should be reopened.” said Mr A. E. Bedford, who agreed that a conference should be hold. “Wo nil know it is impossible to treat cases in their own homes.” Mr Morse then moved that, a letter of protest should bo forwarded to the department from the board favouring the reopening of tho home and agreeing to a conference. “Wc should say that the members of the board are not in favour of the Memorial Hospital being opened as n maternity home.” said Mr Hoadlev.

Other members of the hoard expressed the opinion that strong endeavours should bo made to secure a visit from the Minister. It was finally loft in tho liamls of tho cluiii'nian ami tlm secretary (Mr F T. Tim -. > Io frame a s'ilnblo ronlv mi