NO “MEANS TEST”

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19987, 12 July 1939, Page 16

NO “MEANS TEST”

MATERNITY SERVICES PUBLIC HOSPITALS MIX IST HR'S STATEMENT REPLY TO ASHBURTON (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, tliis day. The fact that there was no “means test” in regard to the availability of maternity services was stressed yesterday by the Minister of Health, the Hon. P. Fraser. “With reference to the reported decision of the Ashburton Hospital Board a appo'rr 1 a committee to investigate the question of imposing a ‘means test’ in connection with the admission . of patients to its maternity hospital, ’ Mr. Fraser said, “it is necessary to noirt out that under arrangements regarding maternity benefits treatment in any hospital maintained by a hospital board is free of charge in respect to the confinement period.

“The department reports that the Ashburton board had drawn attention o the fact that patients, who _ had previously been confined in private nursing homes, were applying for admission to the board's hospital. This the department attributes to the fact that the private hospitals in the district had not at that time entered into i contract to provide maternity benefits. Recently contracts have been completed with these private hospitals and it is probable, therefore, that demands on the board’s accommodation will not be so heavy. However, 1 have requested the department to take up the matter with the board forthwith, with a view to adjusting any temporary difficulty. “There is no ‘means test' in regard to the availability of maternity services,” he added.