PRIVATE HOSPITALS

Hokitika Guardian, 17 July 1929, Page 3

PRIVATE HOSPITALS

INSPECTOR’S REPORT,

L : WELLINGTON, July 15. V. In a report to the Director-General of Health (Dr T. H. A. Valintino) the Inspector of Private Hospitals (Dr I. L. Paget), reviews the present position and the past year’s work in maternity hospitals and ante-natal clinics. He states that 371 institutions in this department of public health have on the whole been maintained in a satisfactory condition. These hospitals consist of seven St. Helens Hospitals, iifty-riine public maternity hospitals or maternity

| wards attached to hospitals, ninetyi lire private medical and surgical hospitals, Forty-five mixed medical, surgical and maternity hospitals and 167 private maternity (hospitals. No fewer than twenty-six licensed hospitals were voluntarily closed, some because they were superfluous, or for other reasons did not meet with sufficient support, and some because, .they wore not being conducted satisfactorily. Dr Paget says he is convinced that tlie problem of reducing maternal mortality can be best solved by three

principal methodsr (1) By universal acceptance by women of the necessity for skilled and systematic ante-natal care; (2) by general application of the principles of aseptic surgery in tho practice of obstetrics, both in and out of hospitals ;■ and (3)' by the provision of small well-equipped maternity hospitals so located as to be available for patients—particularly when home conditions are not suitable for patients during - confinement, and ,\in cases where indications poibt to a serious departure from normal.