PLAN COMMENDED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24629, 10 June 1941, Page 4

PLAN COMMENDED

OBSTETRICS HOSPITAL DR J. B. DAWSON’S VIEWS A POST-WAR WORK The scheme nut forward? by the New Zealand Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society for the establishmint of a new hospital for obstetrics and gynaecology tO’ serve *as oa post-graduate training school in New Zealand was commented upon yesterday by Dr J. B. Dawson, professor of obstetrics at the Dunedin Medical School. Dr Dawson referred to the high standard of obstetrical work in Now Zoslsnd and to the iacili~ ties available for voung graduates today. He spoke of the advantages of the new scheme, which, he stated, would probably have to be deferred till after the way. “ It is the usual practice tor young graduates in medicine to seek further experience as house surgeons or house physicians in the hospitals of New Zealand,” Dr Dawson said, “ but at the moment there is only one hospital—the Queen Mary Maternity Hospital—which provides such a residental appointment in obstetrics for a house surgeon. This means that the opoortunity in New Zealand fSr post-graduate hospital experience in this subject is limited to two graduates per annum. Hitherto, a great many New Zealand graduates have obtained the necessary experience overseas.

High Standard in Dominion

“It would be a mistake to suppose that the obstetrical work of the medical profession throughout New Zealand is not good,” Dr Dawson said, “for it can be confidently stated that the general standard of obstetrics practised in the Dominion to-day is as good, if not better, than that un any part of the Empire. This is reflected in the annual reports of the Director-general of Health. These show that in the past 12 years the maternal- mortality of New Zealand, excluding that from abortions, has fallen from 4i per 1000 to under 3 per 1000 live births. “ Nevertheless, it would be an advantage.” he continued, “if further facilities for post-graduate training in obstetrics were established, arid- it would be desirable that any new focus of obstetrical training should be situated in the North Island, since the South Island is supplied by the Queen Mary Maternity Hospital and the Medical School in Dunedin.” Purpose of the Scheme The purpose of such an . establishment would be to provide further appointments for obstetrical house surgeons, Dr Dawson stated, and also to prd%ide for short post-graduate courses for the benefit of young graduates contemplating settling down in practice, and for other maturer practitioners who might care to refresh their knowledge on the subject. “The cost of such a scheme would be very considerable both for establishment and maintenance,” Dr Dawson said, “ but some . considerable proportion of it at least could justly be regarded as a charge upon the' funds provided for by the general health service of the country. It is probable that it will be necessary.”.he said, “to await the termination of the war before such an expenditure can be considered. ■„* : ' “It is all to the good, however, that preliminary planning should be contemplated,” he said, "so that the project can be brought into being with as little delay .as possible when the present unhappy and extremely critical circumstances have been successfully surmounted.”