MATERNITY HOSPITAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 November 1920, Page 6

MATERNITY HOSPITAL.

'. A STRATFORD PROJECT. j THE QUESTION DEFERRED. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Stratford, Nov. I). Tlie proposal to establish a maternity ward in connection with the Stratford District Hospital was again discussed at to-day's meeting of the Hospit.l Board, and it was decided not to lake any definite action until further inl'orjv.-ition was obtained from hospitals where maternity wards were already established. The chairman (Mr. C. D. Sole) i?aid that the medical superintendent (DrStcven) had gone thoroughly into the question of establishing a maternity ward, but had not come to any finality in the matter, because they were desirous of getting further particulars from other hospitals. The plans which they had before them provided for a building to cast £7OOO, and it was estimated that the annual upkeep of the maternity ward would be about £I2OO. He pointed out that the Board would require to find only .£3500 of the £7OOO, because the Government would grant a subsidy of £3500, and it was estimated that £6OO of the annual expenditure would have to be found by the Board, which would also carry a subsidy. After going into the question with the secretary, lie thought they could enlarge the scope of the hospital by admitting patients from Eltham, Kaponga, and Inglewood. The estimated expense provided for a matron, sister, probationer, cook, and housemaid, and the ultimate cost to the board by way of a levyover the whole district, consisting of the counties of Stratford and Whangamomona and the borough of Stratford, would be about £4OO, which would work out at about 2s per household. The estimated receipts from patients were £6OO per annum. The chairman said he was not going to push the matter until he had full information as to Jiow other maternity wards were managed. But if it was only a question of raising £3OO per annum the whole of the wealthyStratford district he considered they should not hesitate about the matter. In reply to questions, the chairman stated that the estimate of £7OOO for the building was based on present day costs, and the estimated expenditure of £l-200 a year provided for interest and upkeep as well as the whole of the staff. An addition of 4d in the £IOO of capital value to the present rate would provide £4OO a year, and as Stratford was the lowest rated hospital

district in Taranaki, and one of the lowest in the Dominion, tliey ought to be able to bear that increase. The Board's share of the cost would be £3500. i Mr. E. Walter: But we would have to find £7OOO at the start. The chairman: No, we wouldn't. The board would raise £3500 and the Government would pay a subsidy of £3500 on that amount. Mr. O'Neill: The country is crying out for more population, and we should do something- for maternity cases. Mr. R..McK. Morison: What difference will the maternity ward make to the population ? Mr, O'Neill: It will probably mean that a good many babies will be saved from death owing to the mothers not being able to secure proper attention. Dr. Steven said the number of births in Stratford each year averaged 250. and even if the maternity ward became very popular they could not expect to get more than half the number of cases. In reply to Mr. Walter, the chairman said that the plans provided for a building to accommodate ten patients at a time, which he thought was ample accommodation.

The chairman explained that under the new valuations for the borough and counties the rate would oAlv be about 2d instead of 4d in the £IOO. 110 moved that the matter be deferred until the next meeting of the board. This was seconded by Mr. O'Neill and carried.