AMENDMENT MADE

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20862, 21 July 1939, Page 2

AMENDMENT MADE

MATERNITY SCHEME THYIEB FOR CALLING DOCTORS .ADDITIONAL BENEFIT DECIDED (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Thursday Notice is contained in today’s Gazette of an amendment to clause 18 of the Maternity Benefits Regulations, deleting the requirement that the patient, except in case of emergency, should endeavour to refrain from summoning the maternity benefits medical practitioner to visit her during the night hours or on holidays. 'Commenting on the amendment the Minister of Health, the Hon. P. Eraser, said the original provision was inserted for the purpose of protecting medical practitioners from possible unreasonable demands for unnecessary attention. Further consideration of the matter, including consultation with doctors engaged in the administration of maternity benefits, showed that the possibility of their being unduly harassed was not likely to develop; while, on the other hand, there was a danger that the provision might give rise to unnecessary fears on the part of patients, who might refrain from railing the doctor when a visit was necessary. Difficult Cases Additional maternity benefits regulations, of which no-tice is given in today’s Gazette, have been made *in respect of maternity cases which, owing to some actual or suspected abnormal condition, cannot be effectively cared for in a maternity hospital and have to be admitted or transferred to a medical and surgical hospital. The former provisions with respect to maternity benefits did not permit of the payment of maternity benefits in cases of this kind.