PROBLEM OF MATERNITY ACCOMMODATION

Grey River Argus, 9 October 1948, Page 4

PROBLEM OF MATERNITY ACCOMMODATION

PA WELLINGTON, October 8. 'The present position was almost “living from hand to mouth”, said the Minister of Health, the Hon. Miss M. B. Howard, in Hue House of Representatives to-day. She was replying to Mi R. G. Geiard (Nat.. Ashburton) who, during the discussion of the vote for the Department of Health, said that the position concerning maternity accommodation throughout the Dominion was alarming to many. All demands on accommodation had been met, said Miss Howard, but the position would be easier if moie maternity beds were available. No woman, however, needed to worry about getting a booking. If she could not get one herself, she should place ths onus on the local health officer. Mr E. B. Corbett (Nat., Egmont): That’s a very unsatisfactory arrangement. . , A ,, „ The Minister replied that the Department had not yet had any complaints. Two or three years ago the position was causing a little anxiety, but no anxiety existed to-day. Mr Corbett asked if steps were being taken to replace the vacancy caused by the resignation of the Director of Maternal Welfare (Dr Doris Gordon). He also asked were the standards that applied to private hospitals being applied in the public hospitals. Despite the supply of milk and apples to school children, the report of the Medical Director of Health indicated that malnutrition among European and Maori children had increased.

COST OF BENEFITS Miss Howard, replying to points rai/'d by members, said that it was not yet possible to give a considered opinion on the report of the Medical Services Committee. It was true that the cost of pharmaceutical benefits was rising, but this was largely because a number of expensive drugs had been admitted to the free list. It such drugs helped people to regain their health, the drugs should be available to invalids. Miss Howard, replying to Mr Corbett, said that, after the last session, she went up and down the country, visiting hospitals and meeting women’s organisations, and she did not find any serious anxiety about maternity welfare. No safeguards were being relaxed, and everyone knew that the maternity ■ services in this country were never better than they were to-day. At the same time, there was need for eternal vigilance in regard to all hospitals. Malnutrition was no<, always due to wrong eating, but was caused equally by lack of rest. . Mr W. J. Broadfoot (Nat.. Waitomo): I’ll never work again! Miss Howard went on to say that the Health Department was doing a lot, in a quiet way, to educate children on malnutrition. Progress was reported at this stage, and before the House rose, the Acting-Leader, Rt. Hon. W. Nash, indicated that he hoped that all remaining classes of estimates would be finished next week. Some new Bills would be coming down. The House rose at 6 p.m. for the week-end adjournment, until. 2.30 on Tuesday.