ST. HELENS HOSPITAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20713, 5 November 1930, Page 12

ST. HELENS HOSPITAL.

ACCOMMODATION TAXED. APPLICATIONS REFUSED. SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE. The pressure upon the accommodation at St. Helen's Maternity Hospital is again causing the authorities considerable con* corn, especially as many applications for admission are being refused. Dr. T. J. Hughes, medical officer of health, stated yesterday that in order to avoid overcrowding, which would be detrimental to the wellare of the patients, the number of patients booked for each month was limited from about 45 to 50. There were only 40 beds available and accommodation for both November and December was completely booked. Apart from the cases taken in at the hospital, an outside staff attended patients in private homes within a reasonable distance of the city. During the present period of depression many difficulties were encountered, the cases whore patients lived in small apartments and single roortis proving most difficult to meet. Dr. Ilughos stated that strictly speaking the question of accommodation at St. Helens did not come under the jurisdiction of tho local district health office, but tho matter was understood to have been recently investigated by the deputy director-goneral of health. The whole reorganisation of the hospital had been in progress for some months and was designed to prevent overcrowding and also the overworking of the staff. Dr. Hughes added that in his opinion the situation might be relieved by tho Auckland Hospital Board providing accommodation for midwifery cases. Alternative remedies would bo to subsidise private hospitals to take in special emergency cases, and the appointment of district nurses, who would work in private homes, but in co-operation with the present staff.