MATERNITY CASES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26633, 2 December 1947, Page 6

MATERNITY CASES

SERIOUS CONGESTION OTAGO HOSPITAL DISTRICT SPECIAL COMMITTEE APPOINTED

The Otago Hospital Board approved the suggestion of the chairman, Dr A S. Moody, at its first meeting last night, that a Maternity Committee should be appointed. Dr Moody described the appointment of such a committee as necessary owing to the congestion in regard to maternity cases due to the closing down of private hospitals. The personnel of the committee submitted by the chairman and approved by the board is Drs Moody, D. G. MfeMillan, N. H. North, J. R. Fulton, nnd Mrs North Ross, with Dr McMillan as- chairman. . “ I am satisfied that the Hospital Board will require no kicking from outside—we should be capable of doing our job,” Dr Moody continued. “The difficulty is shortage of labour, and I am satisfied the committee will get on with its job as circumstances allow, although it may be necessary for everyone to work longer, hours.” Additional Accommodation

The board had before it a report which had been prepared by the retiring chairman, Dr McMillan, and the secretary, Mr J. Jacobs, in regard to additional provision being made for maternity services in this district. The report stated that all applications for maternity accommodation were and would be met in Queen Mary, or the Miller Maternity Ward, or in other beds in the Dunedin Public Hospital.The extensions to the Queen Mary Hospital provided for 20 new beds, the report continued. The architects had intimated that they would be ready to call tenders next March or April, and that it would be at least 18 months after that before the building was complete and the beds ready for

occupation. “The board has decided on and the Department of Health has approved, the provision of 20 maternity beds at Marinoto and a further 20 beds later on,” the report stated. “The board's architect will have the sketch plans sufficiently advanced to send to the Health Department next week for preliminary approval. The working drawings will then take six to eight weeks to prepare, and then tenders can be called. It is likely that the proposed hospital will take at least six months to erect.” , x ~ Reference was also made to the reopening of the Port Chalmers Hospital. There were at present four beds m this hospital, and additions provided for another four beds. Dealing with the board’s decision to purchase El Nido Maternity gospital, it was stated that the Minister of Health, Miss Howard, had confirmed the purchase, and the medical superintendent had recommended the board to advertise for staff for this institution, but this had been deferred, pending the completion of the sale after the approval of the Land Sales Court, and the fixing of a date for the board taking over. It was expected that this would carry on without hiatus. The board had further resolved that if Quendon Private Maternity Hospital surrendered its licence, application would be made to the Minister of Health for authority to acquire this institution and carry it on as a maternity hospital. The report added that the time anticipated when additional beds at Queen Mary Maternity Hospital and Marinoto .would be available was dependent on the “ material ” situation. “It should also be known that no payments are required to be made by any patients admitted to any maternity hospital controlled by the board;” the report proceeded. Establishment of Training Centre

“Application was made in February, 1941, to the Nurses’ and Midwives’ Board for the registration of Queen Mary Maternity Hospital as a place in which two untrained women may be trained for maternity nursing for a period of 18 months, it being understood that the balance of training required be at a 3t. Helen’s hospital. “In March, 1941, the necessary authority was granted for the Queen Mary Maternity Hospital to be a training school in which untrained women may receive instruction as maternity nurses, two trainees to be taken each period. In September, 1943, the medical superintendent advised that the arrangement for training of maternity nurses was held over, with consent, because two nurse aids were to leave and become trainees in Invercargill Maternity Hospital and owing to the increase in the number of medical students there was no room for the training of maternity nurses, which meant that the hospital as a training l centre was deferred till there was an increased number of beds available.

“In March, 1945, a report was received from the professor of obstetrics and gynaecology that every delivery at the Queen Mary Maternity Hospital was required urgently for the training of medical students and it was not possible to provide for the training of maternity nurses. Miller Ward was converted to a maternity ward on September 24, 1946. In December, 1946. the professor again reported that it rested upon the number of students requiring training and the volume of the work of the hospital, and he was of the opinion that the training of maternity nurses was possible. “On January 30, 1947, the board aaopted the policy of training certificated nurses, provided such trainees as may be accepted agreed to give at least 12 months’ service in maternity work after the completion of training. The Nurses and Midwives’ Board was then communicated with and on February 27 advised that the authority previously granted which mentioned ■ untrained women ’ may apply to ‘ registered nurses.’ By direction, the Nurses and Midwives’ Board was advised on October 15 1947, that it was the intention of the board to commence with the training of maternity nurses at the beginning of 1948.” Dr North said that it would be wise for the Maternity Committee to consider the report, which could then be brought ' before the whole board for discussion. He moved that the report be referred to the Maternity Committee. the motion being carried.