MATERNITY HOME.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 217, 12 September 1940, Page 11

MATERNITY HOME.

e WAIROA COMPLAINT. "INADEQUATE FACILITIES." GISBORNE, this day. Criticism of the inadequate facilities of the Wairoa maternity home was expressed by the Labour party branch in a letter to the Wairoa Hospital Board. The most serious complaint, stated the letter, was the inadequate provision for patients. It was understood at times there were ae many as four patients sharing one comparatively small room. The grouping together of four normally healthy people in one room was not considered conducive to health, so it wae not difficult to imagine the possible serious effects which could arise from the grouping together of women whose health at that particular time demanded the utmost consideration. With regard to babies, continued the letter, it appeared that they were also inadequately provided for insofar as their nursery served also as a drying room, office and sitting-room for the nursee. If the growing birth-rate of the town was to be encouraged, adequate facilities must be provided to cope with it in such a manner as to ensure the greatest possible safeguard to the health of the mothers and babies. The board decided to reply pointing out that the question of maternity facilities had been receiving its attention for eoma time, and ite efforts in the matter were continuing.