N.Z. MATERNITY SERVICES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 42, 5 March 1937, Page 7

N.Z. MATERNITY SERVICES

Pre»9 ABBOctation.I

Government Committee to Inquire MOVE FOR IMPROVEMENT

(By Telegraph—

WELLINGTON Last Night. The Minister of Health, the Hon. P. Fraser, announces that the committee eet up in August last to inquire into the question of septic abortion in New Zealand has coneluded its work, and the chairman, Dr. D. G. McMillan, M.P., has placed the report in the hands of the Minister. It is expected that the report will he published shortly. The members of the committee are Dr. McMillan, Drs. T. F. Corkhill, Sylvia Chapmau, T. L. Paget and Mrs Fraser. The Government hais deeided to appoint members of the committee, witb the addition of Mrs A. M. Hutchinson, of Auckland, and Mrs N. G. Kent-John* ston of Christchurch, as a committee to inquire into maternity services of New Zealand with the following order of reference: — (1) To inquire generally into and report upon any matter affecting the maternity services of the Dominion and to put forward any relevant recommendation. (2) In particulax to inquire into and report (a) whether the maternity hospital services of the Dominion are ade'k quate and efficient in respect of firstly, maternity hospitals maintained by the Government, and secondly private maternity hospitals; (b) whet&er the antenatal and post-natal services of the Dominion are adequate, and if not in what respects they should he extended; (c) whether organised district nursing services which afford maternity service are adequate and satisfactory ; (d) the extent to which anaestheticB are administered to women in childbirtli in public maternity hospitals, and whether tliis procedure should be extended; (e) whether tliere should be a resident medical ofScer attached to the staff of the larger maternity hospitals ; (f) whether the maternity services provided for the Maori race are adequate, md if not how they should be extended ; (g) whether the training of midwivos and marternity nurses is satisfactory and adequate, and whether tlie number of persons who are being trainui] are «n,fficient for the noeds of the Dominion. The committee will be taking evidence at Wellington and other cities which will be announced later, and any persons or organisations desirous of giving evidence or snhmiHing views are roqnested to communicate with the secrctary of the committee, care of tbe Dopartnicnt of Health, Wellington.