MATERNITY HOSPITALS

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 13 June 1924, Page 8

MATERNITY HOSPITALS

POLICY OF DEPARTMENT

PRIVATE HOMES TO BE EXTINGUISHED. —Pr#*«s Association. ’ , DANNEVIRKE, June 12. Speaking at the conference with the Waipawa Hospital Board, Dr Valintine, 'Director-General ol : Hospitals, said that nothing "called for more attention on the part of hospital boards than the question of the erection of maternity homes in connection with the hospitals of the Dominion. The policy of the Department was to encourage Hie boards to, erect macernity hospitals in connection with their institutions. Jt was high time that something tangible was done to meet the needs of the maternity birth rate. The Department iiad in view the matter of extinguishing all private maternity hospitals in favour of institutions controlled by hospital boards. The Danncvirke Hospital Board today accepted ail offer of £SOOO irom the trustees of the Rathbonc Estate tor tho erection upon n silo in sipawa approved by the Health Department, of a maternity hospital in accordance! with plans and conditions approved bv the Department. Ihe hospital and" site arc to cost not under £IOOO. Tho balance is to be held in trust as endowment to assist in the maintenance of tho institution. A condition of the gift was that the Health Department pay a subsidy of £ tor b on £SOOO.