PUBLIC HEALTH.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 July 1920, Page 5

PUBLIC HEALTH.

PROPOSALS OF THE GOVERNMENT. MORE MATERNITY HOMES. Public Health and hospital matters form an interesting feature of the Financial Statement. Under the vote "Public Health, Hospitals and Charitable Aid," a decrease of over £200,000 in this year's requirements as compared with the past year is anticipated. Charges due to the influenza epidemic amounted to a net sum of £194,000. Further provision for about £IOOO will be required for the current year to cover unsettled claims, but the amount so provided will be considerably reduced by recoveries from sales of equipment. With respect to the question of subsidies to Hospital Boards the Government is satisfied the present system presents anomalies, said the Finance Minister. Legislation will therefore be, introduced for the purpose of placing subsidies on a more satisfactory footing. In order to provide reasonable assistance to Hospital Boards it will be necessary this year to substantially increase the premanent appropriations. Probably in no other country do the people make more use of the public hospitals than in New Zealand) and their increasing popularity throws heavier responsibilities upon the Government and hospital authorities. A further reason for increasing the subsidies is to be found in the fact that surgical and medical science have practically been revolutionised during the war period, and these great changes have created a need for the development of special departments in our hospitals which were never before contemplated. It is because our hospitals being efficiently conducted for the treatment of disease that they are so well patronised. This increasing expenditure is, however, receiving close supervision, and mainly for this purpose an Inspector 6f Hospitals has been appointed. The important work of maternity homes is being greatly extended, and the establishment of additional hospitals under the St. Helen's principle is contemplated. The value of this work in a country such as this, where it is so hard for expectant mothers to get necessary assistance, in incalculable. The popularity of these institutions is evir denced by the increasing demands for admission, requiring an increase in the number of institutions catering for this important piiblic want. It must be remembered that although' the St. Helen's hospitals cater largely for the more congested districts, their influence is already felt in the baekblocks. This is due to the large number of midwives who are being efficiently trained in these institutions and who are being sent to and stationed in the bank districts, where their services are gladly availed of. No less than 1022 maternity nurses are on the register, and over one hundred a year are being trained and leave the hospital with certificates. There are already thirteen maternity traininghomes, and the number will shortly be I increased. Maternity wards are Mao being established in connection with many of our public hospitals. Further attention is being given to the necessities of the country districts by increasing the establishment of district nurses. These highly-trained and experienced women are being stationed in central positions in the large hospital districts all over the Dominion. The present conditions under which the nurses have to seek lodging in the backblocks are unsatisfactory, and it is proposed, wherever possible, to erect for each nurse a small cottage as a residence, with one or' two rooms set apart for emergency cases pending their removal to hospital.