MATERNITY HOME

Waikato Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 2608, 10 April 1926, Page 5

MATERNITY HOME

FOR CAMBRIDGE. DEPUTATION TO HOSPITAL , BOARD. With a view to enlisting the sympathy and assistance of the Waikato Hospital Board in retaining the local maternity home at present conducted by Nurse Dickey, a deputation consisting of the Mayor (Mr-T.F. Richards), Drs W. Stapley and 11. C. Tod, and the Vicar, Rev. Mortimer-. Tones, wa.itted on the board at the monthly meeting at Hamilton on Thursday lifternoon. Mr Richards outlined wliat had already been done to further the scheme as previously published in tlic Independent, and stressed the urgent necessity, of action to prevent the splendid service of the home being, lost to the district. The Mayor’s remarks were supported by the Vicar. Dr Stapley said the present home was exceedingly well equipped , and well run. It contained the means of conducting maternity cases in as nearly sterile condition as could be got in any New Zealand hospital. The lady who was running it was highly conscientious, but she was exceedingly hard-worked and had lost, in addition, a lot of money since she started the home. The speaker thought the building should be enlarged to meet the maternity requirements of the district, and also for such medical cases as need not be sent to Hamilton. The matron at present gave a 24-liours’ , service, which was unreasonable to expect of her. The home was’ excellently equipped and well administered. ; Dr Tod also spoke, pointing out the serious position,that would rise for the women of Cambridge if the home were closed down. Board Members’ Views. Mr Allan Bell, the Cambridge member of the 'board, urged his colleagues to view the matter sympathetically. Mr Hill, Rotorua, said the fundamental basis'on which the board had worked in the past in such cases as this, was to help those districts who were prepared to help themselves. What actual assistance was Cambridge prepared to give? ' Mr C. J. W. Barton said that if, as stated, the matter was one of urgency, the deputation should have come forward with a definite offer of assistance. The institution might be all they had said, but it was a bankrupt institution, and for the deputation to come forward with a request for immediate help, was a matter which the board could hardly entertain without some specific proposal. He was sure the board would, however, consider any definite proposal sympathetically. Mr Wagstaff said the main difficulty in all these cases was finance. Demands were being received from all parts of the district for maternity homes. Dr Stapley said Cambridge had already to a certain extent helped itself. The people of Cambridge had made an offer to the Government to provide extensions, provided the department would find the interest and sinkingfund on £6OOO, but this offer was turned down. Rev. Mortimer-,Tones said he was quite certain that Cambridge would stand to any scheme which the board might propose^and would do its full share in the matter. Meanwhile the need for assistance was urgent. On the motion of Mr Hill, it was decided to ask the people of Cambridge to submit a concrete scheme, together with a statement of the extent to which they themselvos were prepared to help.