ST. HELEN'S HOWE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 2040, 11 October 1919, Page 3

ST. HELEN'S HOWE.

FOR THE PALMERSTON HOSPI

TAL DISTRICT

The District Hospital Board at its meeting on Thursday received a letter from the Acting-Chief Health Officer, emphasising that it is the duty of hospital hoards to provide for the needs of their districts with regard to the establishment of maternity hospitals. The chairman (Sir James II ilson) said it was not a duty for hospital hoards refined by the Act. There was a St. Helen’s Hospital in Gisborne, although it was a smaller place than Palmerston. Mrs Gill urged that a small home for local maternity cases should he provided in Palmerston. Dr. Whitaker said that the soldiers’ ward might he renovated and used temporarily for maternity eases.

Mr Homblow said that at present the relieving officer arranged for cases in which assistance was required and nurses were provided in the homes, and paid for by the Board.

Mrs Gill said that there had been eases in which women had lost their lives in their endeavour to avoid the responsibilities of child-bearing. There were hundreds of cases iff which women could be made more happy in regard to bringing children into the world than they wore at the present time. At present they always had to consider the question of price, the nurse’s fee, and the doctor’s fee. The women felt that they should have consideration in this matter, but when women had to struggle along and their husbands only bad a working man’s wages, she (the speaker) did not wonder that they wanted to got out of their responsibilities. If, women had comfortable homos to which they could go, and were able to go back to their homes again .strong and fresh for the struggle, they would have happier homes and happier women. She had heard complaints from many women about the trouble of having babies. The question of cost was before these women all the time. They were forced into any place in which the Board could put them, and they were forced to remain‘there to get over what was regarded as a disagreeable business. She considered that the Board should take the matter in hand and consider it from the women’s stand - point. She considered that (Ley should think over the trouble to the women.'and allow them to have as comfortable a lime as possible. She was only speaking for the poor women who could not afford to go into private homes. The'Board should go into the matter and get some place for the women where they could he properly looked after. They had in Palmerston a District Nurse, who was a very line woman, and who looked after many eases, but the members of the Board did not get an adequate idea of what the District Nurse had to do. Site did all that she could, but site could not give all the attention necessary to the women under the present conditions. The women should be looked after for the whole of Hie time, and not left to the ministrations of the neighbours, or the children when they came home from school, or to (lie nurse who just “dropped iu ’ for a time.

Dr. Whittaker .agreed with Mrs (Jill that something should he done for maternity cases, saying she had made oni a good ease. There were hundreds of cases in which women had a hard time. All the members agreed that they wanted a St. Helen's home, lie considered Unit hy next IMareh they could provide live or six beds for cases at the hospital, and the soldiers' ward at the hospital could be used without a large capital expense. Mr Hornblow supported Mrs Gill, saying that he did not know that matters were so serious in Palmerston. So far as unfortunate girls were concerned, I hey wovdd take grave risks in any ease, and would resort to wretched things to get out of their trouble. The matteiyshouJd again he brought under the notice of the Minister, and lie should he asked to acquire the home of the late Dr. MeXab, or another suitable building, for a St. Helen's borne.

The Chairman said that (he Act stipulated that hospital hoards .“may” establish maternity homes; it did not impose the duty on them. Mrs Gill said that the Board’s by-laws said that no woman in a certain condition could lie admitted as a patient at the hospital, ’the Secretary; The by-law is not carried out. Mr E. Penn supported the'suggestion made hy Mr Hornblow, and said that they should direct the Minister’s attention to any other suitable properly.' Mr Hornblow said that they came to the difference of opinion among the members of the Board when they considered the establishment of a maternity hospital on the hospital grounds. When they had the disagreement with Mr Russel!, a compromise was come to that they should establish a St, Helen’s Home in Palmerston North. If they-had a maternity home on the hospital grounds and also a St. Helen’s Horae ’they would suit both views. He did not agree with a maternity ward in the hospital buildings. Unless they urged the matter on the Government they would not get a St. Helen’s homo; if (hey continued to strive they would achieve some result. Mr Hornblow added that what Mr Russell had said was that the Government had been induced to erect St. Helen’s Homes in other places because material donations had been received. This district, by reason of its population, was now 'entitled

4o a State institution. The. Cluyrimm read'a list of the towns in which St. Helen’s homes have already been established, and said they should continue to press the Government to establish such a home in Pelmerston North. The Government seemed to want to thrust all its duties on the hospital boards. Ultimately it was decided, on the motion of Mr Hornblow, that the Board recognises that it is the Government’s responsibility to establish a St. Helen’s Homo in Palmerston North, and that the matter be referred to the Borough Council for endorsement and support, find that a copy of the resolution be forwarded (o the member for the district.