MATERNITY MORTALITY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17179, 24 October 1923, Page 8

MATERNITY MORTALITY.

BOARD OF HEALTH PROPOSALS. At tho meeting of the Hospital Board to-day the following letter in regard to maternity mortality was re, ceived from Dr T. H. A- Valintine, jnspector-General of Health: —• \ Early in the present year the board of Health set up a committee to bring down a report regarding the private I maternity hospitals of the Dominion, this proposal having arisen out of tho board’s previous consideration of the question of maternal mortality. The committee, in due course, sub milted its report, which was adopted by the board., arid among the recommendations included therein are the following : - (3) The committee wish t-o draw attention to another recommendation in the report of the committee on maternal mortality which reads as follows; —‘‘The committee considers that efficiently equipped private midwifery wards for paying patients should he established as soon as possible in connection with public midwifery institutions or in other suitable places.” The committee are of the opinion that the import, ancc of tins suggestion warrants this recommendation being ©specially stressed, but would acid the words or “ public hospitals ” after the word “ institutions.” A deterrent to the establishment of properly equipped maternity hospitals by private ente* prise is the considerable capital out lay involved. <6> The committee are of the opinion that in some cases it is desirable for the Government or local "hospital boards to subsidise or otherwise assist in the establishment and maintenance of satisfactory private maternity hospitals in outlying centres. The committee understand that this is already being done by some homital boards. In some cases the boards make payment in consideration of a certain number of beds being always available for the n«e of their patients if required. This achieves the double purpose ol assisting the private hospital and serving the public at the same time. (8) The committee would suggest that a scheme bo put under way whereby registered maternity hospitals would be able to obtain sterilised packets for maternity cases. Such a scheme might be operated in conjunction with the public hospitals. With regard to the first of these recommendations the Department supports the views of tho Board of Health, and would be glad if the proposal could receive the careful consideration of the hospital boards of tho Dominion. The letter was received.