MATERNITY CASES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20725, 19 November 1930, Page 14

MATERNITY CASES.

'TREATMENT IN AUCKLAND

" ATTITUDE OF DEPARTMENT. HOSPITAL BOARD'S CRITICISM. Strong objection to the attitude of tin) Health Department toward providing accommodation for maternity c<lsps in Auckland in view of the position at St. Helens Hospital war. made at a meeting of the Auckland Hospital Board yesterday. The discussion arose from the receipt of a copy of a letter dealing with the position sent by the Director-General of Health, Dr. M. H. Watt, to the medical officer of health in Auckland. Dr. Watt stated that in cases where patients had heea booked, and it was subsequently found that beds were not. available for their accommodation, it was clearly tho duty of the department to tec that they were provided for. "You should in tho first instance endeavour to place, such cases in tho Salvation Army maternity hospital, if such an institution exists in your city, or in .some other public or semi-public institution," l.)r. Watt wrote. "Failing this, I shall be glad if you will make terms with some private hospital at a rate not exceeding £4 4s a week for tho accommodation of such castes. In the case of patients who have not been booked at St. Helens, thu department can accept no special responsibility. \on should refer such patients to (he secretary of the Hospital Board." Object oi St. Helens. "It has been stated that the object of pt,. Helens Hospital was to train maternity nurses,'' said the chairman, Mr. W Wallace. "It is a libel on one of tho most/humanitarian men of the Dominion, for it was Mr. Seddon's intention that ii» should be for those without the means of obtaining private comforts. It seems that it is the idea of the department to foist this on tho backs of the ratepayers. We would bo quite willing to take it over if tho department would provide for unemployment relief. In indigent cases the board will not fail to defray tho cost, but it will not take the matter over wholesale without protest. No scheme of district nursing has conio forward from the department. "The institution is being filled by cases which should be provided for outside so that it would be possiblo to take patients for whom the hospital was originally intended. Some provision must bo made, and sooner or later wo must have a system of district nursing. Unless we make a protest I think wo are going to have still more foisted on us." "A Deplorable Attitude." The Rev, W. C.Wood said that in tho absence of any direct information from the Minister of Health it seemed futile to discuss tho matter, although it was perfectly patent that something had to be done. There was ati element of cowardice in the manner in which the department, failing to face the matter, was wanting to shift the responsibility on to tho shoulders of other persons. It was deplorable that an important Government office, should write and suggest that patients shojild go to a philanthropic institution, using it for the work that was its own. "On behalf of those who are struggling to keep those homes open I must protest against the State sheltering itself under them," he said "No body of men doing work in Iho .humanitarian way that we do can stand for it," said Mr. W. K. Howitt, protesting against the attitude of the department. "If the department wa/its to put the responsibility on the ratepayers, why does it not call a conference ?" Mr. E. If. Potter suggested that too much was being made of tho matter. Tt was the wish of the board that people should be treated in their own homes, where there was less risk than by crowding them into an institution. Mr./ Howitt: A lot have not got homes. Mr. Potter's Views. "We have no evidence that they have not," said Mr. Potter. "If the Salvation Army homo has tho accommodation', there ,is no reason why the department should not take advantage of it. If wo are asked to take over St. Helens the. Government should contribute at the very least 75 per cent, of tho cost of the patients. We have a comparatively small institution in proportion to tho population, and thero is no hope of dealing with all the patients that might apply for admission. It is therefore not our duty to shoulder the responsibility. We should first be very definite in asking the Government whether it would meet any liability in connection with the control or additions to St. Helens, and if not to suggest a policy." Dr. E. B. Gunson said the department ehould he asked whether it was doing to depart from tho original scheme it had embarked upon. As to where the responsibility lay there was no getting over the fact that indigent people had to be provided for. The onus was on the Government, arid if it failed, then it should indicate how tho board could reasonably ossume it without incurring financial loss. "I think wo are riot making enough of the matter," said Mr. M. J. Savage, M.l'. ' I'llis policy of drift should not be. allowed when a question of life and death is involved. To say that we should send patients to the Salvation Army home is something we should never tolerate. Surely thero is some system of coordinating the private nursing homes. Whatever were Mr. Seddon's objects, it- docs not. relieve the Government of its responsibilities. What we should do if possible is to get the Minister of Health into this room. I have spoken to him with others, and his attitude makes ine nil the more concerned about getting to grips with lurn and the department. The thing is too serious to he allowed to drift. There are a number 'of nursing homes only too willing to take patients. Cannot, Allow Gases to Sutler. A Member: Do you want the Government to pay? Mr. Savage: 1 don't mind who pavs us long as wo get things done. "if we are put into a corner I am not going to let any person suffer as a result of the Health Department's neglect." said Mr. Wallace. "If once we do tlm, the, department is going to allow us lo do it for all time. We have no scheme before us. but in the meantime we cannot allow these cases to suffer. We have spent £33,000 in seven months on unemployment relief, and we have £42,000 for tho year on our estimates. Where are wo going to bo in twelve months? Behind it, all there is an effort to foist responsibility on the hoard, with no intention of making additions to St. Helens." Mr. •). Dcmpsey: I think we should keep llie matter quite separate from incmployinen' relief. A resolution was passed that the care if maternity cases was a matter entirely for the Government, and that the Heahli Department should bo informed that rna ternity homes were available in Auckland where tho medical officer of health might arrange for.the care of such cases as St.. Helens Hospital could not accommodate. Tt was also decided .that flic Minister if Health should ho asked to meet the board at the earliest opportunity hi discuss this and other questions.