MANAWATU HOSPITALS

Stratford Evening Post, Volume LVIII, Issue 12, 11 June 1926, Page 5

MANAWATU HOSPITALS

SINISTER APPROACHEB A MATERNITY WARD. Per Press Association. PALMERSTON NORTH, June 11. A conference took place at Palmerston North yesterday between the Minister for Health, Hon. Young, the Director-General of Health Dr. Valentine and .the Palmerston North Hospital Board, principally on the matter, of what form of hospital should be continued at Otaki and the question of establishing a maternity hospital at Palmerston North. In reference to the former matter the Minister suggested that Otaki should not be left without any local service. He suggested that the Board should establish a maternity ward of four beds and two cither beds for the reception of urgent sickness and accident cases, which would be transferred to Palmerston North by ambulances at the earliest possible moment. No longer, slaid the Minitser, would major sub-hospitals be allowed. In future all major operations should he performed at base hospitals, of which there would be one only for each district, and Otaki was not going to he made a major sub-hospital. The Minister realised the difficulties of the Board, but thought it should provide some maternity treatment at Otaki.

Board members deemed the Minister’s suggestion too costly and would rather retain the old system. it was pointed out that when a maternity hospital was established at Palmerston North, trained maternity nurses would serve the country districts by going to homes. Hence perhaps there was no need for a maternity ward at.Otaki, in which case the Board would consider the rest of the Minister’s suggestion anent emergency wards. After a lengthly discussion it was unanimously resolved to leave the matter of a decision entirely In fne hands of the Minister, to say what the Board must do in reference to a maternity hospital. Mr Nash, M.P., said that the St. Helens Home fund, amounting to some £3300, was now offered to the Board unconditionally, towards building such an institution. The estimated cost of the building was £BSOO, hut the total would probably be £IO,OOO. The Minister was asked for 24s subsidy in the.pound'on the total cost. Mr Young replied that the Board had a good caes for that subsidy on the amount raised but not on the total cost of the building and disputed the contention that the subsidy had been promised by earlier Ministers. In any case the maximum subsidy was now 20s. The master was deferred to enable Mr Nash to go into the question with the Minister at Wellington.