LIMITED TO SEVEN

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 176, 12 August 1937, Page 8

LIMITED TO SEVEN

Our Own Correspondent.

MATERNITY - CASES AT RATHBONE HOSPITAL

Frorn

WAIPUKURAU, This Day. At yesterday's meeting of the Waipa ;«•* Hospital Board it was decided, pending the receipt of the •Government Commission's report of maternity services, that the number admitted to the Rathbone Maternity Hospital, Waipawa, be no more than seven at one time, emergency cases excepted. Arrangements are to be made with the Waipukurau Maternity Hospital proprietors to take overflow patients, provided accommodation is avaiiable. A lively discussion on the subject arose out of a recommendation embodied in the Finance Committee's report, "That the recent instructions given by the Hospital Medieal Superintendent with a view to preventing over-erowding be approved_ these instructions being to tlie effect that no more than nine patients should be iu the institution at any one time, arrangements to be made with the Waipukurau Materuity. Hospital proprietors to take overtlow patients." The Medieal Superintendent, Dr. W. B. hisher, stated that, since his lecommendation had been made, he had discussed the matter with Dr. Paget, a member of the Commission whicb had visited Waipukurau yes'terday, and the latter had recommended limitiug the number of patients to seven, with which proposai he had agieed. Mr D. W. Neild tliereupun nioved that the number be limited to seven in accordance with the doctors' recommendation, provided accommodation was avaiiable at Waipukurau lor the overilow. Mr Neild went ou to detail evidence of over-crowding he had come across in his capacity as visiting member ol: the boaid, Mr D. Eddy seconded the motion. In reply to Mr T. B. Hunter, Dr.

Fisher said that the total accommodation in the two homes (Waipawa and Waipukurau) was 12. The chairman, Mr W. H. Rathbone, 1 pointed out that the suggested arrangement would alfect tne fiuancial position. Mi Bmyrk, managing secretary, said he wanted to make it clear that there was no suggestion of inefficiency on the part of the matron, Ivliss Bridge. It was purely a matter of insufficient accoinmodatiou. The chairman voiced approval of tfiis lemark, adding that ne would pay the matron the con plnnent of sayliig that, as a maternity uurse, she was one in a hundred. What he, JHr Rathbone, wanted explained was, what was the board's .position if a patient had booked in and paid her booking iee, and when she went along for

her confinement, i'ound the place fullP Would she be told .to go to Waipukurau? If so, he consiuered she could take aotiqu against tlie board. Mr Neild: Tho seventh patient should have been sent to Waipukurau if the avaiiable accommodation at Waipawa was booked up.„ Mr C. Thomsen asked what would liappen if a woman came in just a few hours before she was to hays a child. Could she be transferred in that condition.

• Dr. Fisher explained that, in that case, she would have to be admitted as an emergency case. Mr Hawthorn: Wo should be very pleased to get all these babies. It's just wliat we want. If they had to have them in the board room we s'hould still be pleased. When the laughter occasioned by this sally had subsided, Mr Rathbone explained that extreme cases of overcrowding through emergency admissions had only happened three tirnes in 11 years. Mr Hunter then moved as an amendment that, pending the. Maternity Commission's report, and provided accommodation was avaiiable at Waipu 11- j . urau for the overiiow, the nlimber admitted to the Waipawa •institution should be limited to seven, except in cases of emergency. Mr Ne/ld then said he was prepared to withdraw his motion in favour of Mr Hunter's amendment, which was seconded by Mr Warren who said he thought the Board would have to be guided by Dr. Fisher's statement that both he and the members of the Governifient Commission had agreed that the number admitted should be no more than seven. He took it that .the , booking limit itould be seven. i The chairman: We can't regailate the booking, because the date booked would not necessarily be the date of admission. Div Fisher pointed out that, even in private places, allowances were made for emergency cases. The chairman: When Hitler cornes here we'll need accommodation for twenty-five I Mr Warren: When Hitler comes we'll need to extend the hospital accommodation (laughter). Mr Hunter's motion was then passed. ' .