Statement By Minister

Northern Advocate, 13 May 1939, Page 8

Statement By Minister

[Per z 3 ress Association. Copyright.! WELLINGTON, This Day. A statement in reference to the maternity benefit of the social security . scheme was made last evening by the Minister of Health, the Hon. P. Fraser. \ “The public will see from the long list of those willing to assist in extending the maternity benefit of the social security scheme to as many mothers as possible, which will appear in the advertisement columns tomorrow, that the maternity benefits have been successfully arranged for.” said the Minister Nurses And Hospitals.

f,> The response from obstetric nurses has been in most districts highly satisfactory. If there are any nurses who have, not completed their contracts, they- would be well advised to do so without delay so that they will be in dime for the first supplementary list. i “All public hospital maternity wards will come into the maternity benefit scheme .automatically. The large number of private maternity hospitals which have contracted to provide hospital treatment in relation to maternity benefit ensure that beds will be available in most localities. Attitude of Doctors. ’ “AsHvas anticipated, in view of the official attitude of the New Zealand branch of the British Medical Association, the response from the medical profession has not been satisfactory, although those agreeing to participate, and generally co-operate in the operation of the maternity benefit, together with doctors on the staff of public maternity hospitals and the maternity wards of public hospitals, are sufficient to enable medical services in relation to maternity benefit to be established in many districts. . ’“A number of doctors have signed the contract conditionally, and although it has not been possible to complete their contracts in time for the first list, every effort ;will be made to meet all reasonable wishes as QUickly as possible, so that their names 'can appear on the supplementary list.