MATERNITY HOMES LIKELY TO BE FULLY TAXED IN FUTURE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 166, 19 July 1946, Page 4

MATERNITY HOMES LIKELY TO BE FULLY TAXED IN FUTURE

The demand for maternity services! in Wanganui and elsewhere was likely to increase dring the next year on two, said the chairman, Mr. J). DSimson, when a report on a recent visit by Dr. Doris Gordon, director of maternal welfare for the Department of Health, was before the Wanganui Hospital Board at its montnly meeting yesterday. The chairman said that this was the view shared by medical men and wai a natural sequel to the war. “Though maternity services will bet fully taxed for about two years, it would be unwise to go ahead and provide permanent accommodation on that basis," said the chairman. “After a time the position should be back to normal." The secretary, Mr. K. Harris, reported that when Dr. Gordon visited the city recently tn an advisory capacity, she expressed the view that Wanganui, in common with other centres in New Zealand, may find itself with inadequate maternity accommodtion unless an early survey was made of likely requirements, bhe did not agree with the view held in some ouarters that i.ioihers wr.o were sufficiently well cculd go home on the tenth or eleventh day, thus making more beds available for new cases. "Dr. Gordon said that there was a •iv tr •- ugh out the land for mors babies, and that she did not think it lair that, mothers should go home so

soon,” Mr. Harris added. As an alternative, she had suggested that a convalescent home be used for the last four or live days.

Mr. Harris added that such a place was available in Wanganui. It was one of lhe smaller nursing homes which had closed down and had accommodation for four or five patients. The question of this home being used lor convalescent maternity patients was left to the chairman, the medical superintendent. Dr. H. L. Widdowson, the matron, Miss Buckingham and the secretary, with power to act should the need arise.