NEW MATERNITY BLOCK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26777, 21 May 1948, Page 6

NEW MATERNITY BLOCK

Gore Women Express Concern

HOSPITAL PLAN CONDEMNED

Special Reporter GORE, May 20. When the women of Gore learned before Christmas that plans had been prepared to build a new obstetrical hospital annexe above the ward at the Gore Hospital, the move did not meet with their wholehearted support. Indeed, there were few in favour of it. Agitation among the members of women’s organisations in the township finally led to a concrete form of protest to the authorities. , When the Minister of Health, Miss Howard, was in Gore about two months ago, a deputation from the women’s organisations presented her with a petition, signed by about 1000 women residents of Gore and Eastern Southland, condemning any proposal to incorporate t*he new maternity hospital with the existing hospital building.

The suggestion was made by the deputation that a site adjacent to the Gore Hospital should be used for the erection of an obstetric hospital, which would then be a separate entity, but would y be contiguous to the public hospital and handy to the equipment and facilities which might be required in case of emergency. Alternative Site An alternative suggestion was made that the authorities could purchase a site on the hill area at the back of Gore and build the maternity hospital there. -The deputation pointed out that a site for the hospital could probably be obtained by way of a donation. So far, however, the women of Gore have received no notification whether the original plan for the maternity hospital above the present women’s ward is to be proceeded with, or whether any of their suggestions are being considered by the Minister of Health and her department. While they readily admit that a new maternity hospital is vitally necessary at Gore,' and they would welcome its building as soon as possible, members of the women’s organisations approached by the Daily Times put forward numerous reasons why they would prefer the maternity hospital to be separate from the ordinary hospital. Denial of Privacy Members of the federation of district branches of the Women’s Division of Federated Farmers, the Plunket Society, the Women’s Institute, the Women’s Section of the Returned Services’ Association, and the Gore Women’s Club said that the privacy that was wanted in a. maternity hospital would be lacking in a scheme such as that proposed by t the HealtnDepartment, and • the hospital outlook would not be pleasant for women convalescing after confinements. They said that the Gore Hospital was about a mile from the town and conveyance there was difficult both for expectant mothers and their husbands and friends visiting them. Also, _ the visiting hours would be restricted to those permitted by ordinary hospital routine. . . ~ One speaker drew attention to the dampness of. areas near the Mataura River, and. a member of the Division o£/Federated Farmers pointed out that country members were dissatisfied at having to come long distances to be confined in a public hospital. Cases were cited of expectant mothers being unable to find accommodation at the Dalkeith Maternity Hospital or the Gordon Maternity Hospital at East Gore, and having to be admitted as emergency cases to the Gore Public Hospital, .where, it was‘•'alleged, they did not:/receive .4: particularly pleasant i welcome 'at 'times; principally because the hospital staff was exceptionally busy coping with other types of cases. All the women told the Daily Times that their main objection was to the new hospital annexe being, placed above the. women’s ward: at the Public Hospital. They argued.-that, as a considerable amount of money was to be spent on the project, it would be preferable to use it ■to satisfy the women who would benefit from.it by building a separate hospital. If it were adjacent to the main hospital that would satisfy some of fhe requirements of a maternity hospital as laid 'down by members of the medical profession. j Some, time has passed since the women of the district presented their petition, and they claimed that, as the confinement position was as desperate at Gore as in any other part of the country, they were entitled to know what steps were under consideration.