MATERNITY CASES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20991, 30 September 1931, Page 10

MATERNITY CASES.

PROPOSED FREE TREATMENT. MOVEMENT IN AUCKLAND. HELPING POOR FAMILIES. There is a feeling in certain quarters that the charges at St. Helens Hospitals are too high for those for whom tho institutions were intended. As a result a movement is being organised in Auckland with the object of providing free maternity treatment for women who are not well off. Tho proposal, which is only in its initial stages, is to establish a special hospital where this free care would be given. So far two informal meetings have been held among those specially interested, but definite progress had been delayed through the absence of several active supporters on account of influenza. Another meeting is to be held this week. Already it has been publicly stated that those who are promoting the movement are assured of the financial backing necessary for the success of the enterprise, but the sources on which they are depending have not been disclosed. A sharp increase in the scale of charges at the St. Helens Hospitals was made last April. The loss on these hospitals was reported to have been £31.000 for the previous year, and much of the overcrowding was ascribed to tho presence of comparatively well-to-do patients who were taking advantage of the very low rate of 30s a week. The charge accordingly was increased to £5 5s for a confinement and post-natal treatment for a period of 14 days, with a reduction of 6s a day for a shorter period. Thus a treatment for 12 days now costs £4 13s as against the old charge of £3 for 14 days. The charges for ante-natal indoor treatment 3nd for waiting patients were increased from 3s to 6s a day. The old charge of £1 to cover a daily visit of a nurso for 10 days was increased to £2 2s.