TRAINING IN ST. HELENS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1033, 25 July 1930, Page 13

TRAINING IN ST. HELENS

PROTEST TO MINISTERS I ADMISSION OF STUDENTS Press Association WELLINGTON, Today. A deputation of women’s organisations waited on Ministers of the Crown today opposing the use of St. Helens Hospitals for the training of students. Replying. the Prime Minister, the Hon. G. W. Forbes, said the point raised by the > deputation had come under his notice for the first time. He had not been aware until just recently that an alteration in policy had taken place and had not had an opportunity of discussing the matter with his colleagues. “I do not know,” said Mr. Forbes, “whether the necessity exists for medical students going into these homes for training purposes.” Loud Voices: “No, No. It does not exist.” “Of course,” said Mr. Forbes, “I would like to hear the other side of the argument as well. However, the feelings of those who have to go into the homes must receive the veryserious consideration of the Government and I can assure you they will.” The Minister of Health, the Hon. A. J. Stallworthy, observed that there appeared to be a great deal of misapprehension on many phases of the subject. The alteration in policy had not been of recent growth as it dated back to 1918. That aspect c*f the department’s activities was administered by technical medical officers whose policy was to make such arrangements with the medical faculty at Dunedin as would provide the very necessary facilities for the training of medical students in midwifery in New Zealand. Mr. R. Semple, M.P.: At the expense of the working mother. The Minister: No. Mrs. Hay: Are your officers able to bind down the Government? The Minister said he was not suggesting that for a moment. He bad not heard previously any suggestion that the law was being violated or not properly administered. The policy had been pursued because, on the facts presented to him, it seemed to be the thing to do. However, he would consider the representations and submit a reply to Airs. Hay in writing. It was extravagant to declare that an invasion was being made of the St. Helens Hospitals. Statistics revealed that only 16 per cent, of the confinements in those institutions had been attended under the supervision of the matron by final year medical students, who were almost qualified doctors. Voices: No. no. The Minister: They are six-year students and are almost qualified doctors. The sixth year was imposed really to meet the requirements of the British Medical Council and the best part of the sixth year was devoted to maternity cases. The essential training in midwifery in New Zealand was obtained by attending to maternity cases and that fact had to be taken into consideration. While in the past midwives had been trained for that work hundreds of them were not now in practice and did not intend to practice.