THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1947. MATERNITY HOSPITALS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26633, 2 December 1947, Page 4

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1947. MATERNITY HOSPITALS

The women of Dunedin—those representing women’s organisations, who were responsible for calling the meeting, and those who formed the audience and added weight to their plea—are to be congratulated upon the purposeful demonstration in the Concert Chamber last night. It is a platitude—one which has been repeated often enough in the last year or so—that everything should be done than can possibly be done to provide skilled attention and suitable accommodation for women at child-birth. In Dunedin there has been, no doubt, a willing enough spirit of service, both in public and private maternity homes; but circumstances have conspired against the efforts of those in charge of the homes. Those circumstances have been twc in number: one, the sharp post-war increase in the birth-rate; two, the intervention in maternity hospital administration of the State, which has imposed regulations and produced conditions of service and remuneration that are forcing private maternity homes out of existence.

The late Hospital Board in Dunedin failed dismally to anticipate the post-war increase in the birth-rate, which was predictable—with no extraordinary percipience the Daily Times drew attention to this natural phenomenon while the shortage of accommodation was merely threatening—and it is at least partly blameworthy for the present crisis. The policies of nationalisation and the public weal have conflicted sadly in this, as in other matters. While hundreds of thousands of pounds have been spent on hospital buildings, no construction was undertaken that might have relieved the situation; the Hospital Board assumed a responsibility for confining expectant mothers that it can discharge only in the most unsatisfactory manner. What is now to be done? A positive answer, except in longterm planning, was not forthcoming last night. In the crisis, it is left to the Hospital Board—and the übiquitous agencies of government —to act. The chairman of the newly-formed Maternity Committee is at least fully informed of the nature of the immediate requirements. It is for the Hospital Board to assure, first of all, that all women in need of maternity care will be received, without worry on their part or exasperating and sickening delay, . into maternity hospitals, public or private. But this requirement being met to the best of the available resources, the question remains as to future policy. Is it the intention of the board to convert the entire maternity system to the same sort of soulless institutionalism that public hospitals increasingly tend to produce? The extent to which open maternity hospitals will be available in the future remains less than clear. The Hospital Board should be in no doubt as to the desire of many women —probably the great majority—to be confined m smaller, self-contained hospitals by the doctor of their choice. In no department of medicine is the personal association between patient and doctor more valued and more valuable. The women of Dunedin have now forced upon the administrative authorities their firm decision to interest themselves in the maternity service. They should ask to be heard, as they, are entitled to be heard, when plans for the future are being made. This is matter in which the women’s viewpoint is, or should be, the criterion. It is necessary now that the women should take an active part in the arrangements for providing maternity hospitals, recruiting staff for them, and ensuring that they meet not only the needs of departmental efficiency, but the comfort, convenience and the desire for personal attention by a trusted doctor of the individual patients. l '