Lake Wakatip Mail Thursday, February 1, 1945. DISSERVICE TO COMMUNITY

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 4676, 1 February 1945, Page 2

Lake Wakatip Mail Thursday, February 1, 1945. DISSERVICE TO COMMUNITY

The information lately given to the public by the Southland Hospital Board that the maternity home in Queenstown was to be closed seems somewhat belated. Further, it was stated that the board intended to build a home in Queenstown. It was known to the, board months ago that the present home was to be closed at the end of the year. Moreover, as long ago as eighteen months the matron pointed out to the board that the financial consideration she was receiving did not compensate- her for her enterprise. Now the town and district is without a maternity home and this fact does not show foresightedness on the part of the board and says much less for the initiative of the member for the district that an unfortunate interim is allowed to occur before the home is re-established. The matron, Mrs Chalmers, had at the time anticipated the needs of the district in her undertaking and had, moreover, won the confidence of her patients. As the result of procrastination on the part of the board or the Health Department, expectant mothers and their relatives are driven to a state of nervousness pending entry into a home situated thirty miles distant from the centre of the district. A grave situation has been allowed to occur in a matter that concerns the health of the community. In order to allay the fVelings of the people it would be wise to re-open the home, retain the, present matron on a more equitable basis until the necessary alterations were made or a new home built. Smaller towns than Queenstown such as Riverton, Lumsden, Tuatape.re, Bluff and Otautau all had maternity homes and it is even conceded by the board that many places with fewer than 38 eases a year—Queenstown has had 30 to 38 cases—had homes. We understand that ,/i move is to be made to meet the position and 4t is sincerely to be hoped that action will not be long delayed.