A LYTTELTON NEED.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 18217, 3 October 1919, Page 7

A LYTTELTON NEED.

MATERNITY HOSPITAL. [Fbom Oub Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, October 2. r With the object of securing the sanction of the Public Health and Hospital* SEtepartment to the erection of a materjnity hospital at Lyttelton, a deputation, including Mr liorroll (chairman of the Norva Canterbury Hospital Board), jMr Lester (Mayor of Lyttelton) and eoveral residents of the t#>wn, accompanied by Mr M'Conibs, M.F.. interiviewed Sir Francis Boli, Minister in jChargs of Hospitals, to-day. ; It was pointed out that great incon(venienoe was caused to maternity pa['iionts by having to go into the St •Helena Hospital in Christchurch, as it involved an expensive wait in the city and long absence from home, whion was a serious disadvantage to >*.vork'ing man's wife. The proposed iustituition would cost between £4COO and ,£SOOO, and if the precedent in other {parts of Canterbury was followed, the jlocal authority would provide twothirds of the expenditure, while the •Hospital Board would maintain the institution. A casualty ward could bo (combined with the maternity hospital, Und it was behaved that the fees from imaternity cases would practically cover (the cost of this portion of the hospital. I The deputation considered Lyttelton to the in a worse position than any; ©lace 'twenty miles in the country, as in the latter case a patient could be taken in a motor-car to the hospital, but the railway service might not be available in an emergency at Lyttelton, and tho town was thus more remote from Christchurch than many country oisThe Minister, in reply, expressed disapproval of the proposal to have casualty oases in a maternity institution, land remarked that when a large maIternity hospital was erected in Uhnst- ' church the Department expected it U> eater for a wide area, but he would look into the special position of Lyttelton and be guided by the opinion of his expert advisers. He would give his decision to Mr M'Combs within a few days. ______