MATERNITY SERVICE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 May 1939, Page 5

MATERNITY SERVICE

STATEMENT BY MINISTER OF HEALTH RESPONSE FROM NURSES SATISFACTORY. DIFFICULTIES WITH MEDICAL MEN. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Arrangements with obstetric nurses, private maternity hospitals and medical practitioners for the operation as from Monday of the maternity benefits under the social security scheme were referred to by the Minister of Health, Mr Fraser, in a statement last evening. A list of those who have so far completed contracts to participate in the scheme and provide the prescribed services is published on this page. A supplementary list is to be issued later. The response from obstetric nurses is stated by the Minister to have been in most localities highly satisfactory. He said that the large number of private maternity hospitals which had contracted to provide treatment would ensure that beds would be available in most districts. The response from the medical profession had not been satisfactory. A number of doctors had signed contracts conditionally. Mr Fraser said that if a doctor were subject to professional injury through deliberate non-co-operation on the pait of fellow practitioners because of his having signed a contract, then the full protection of the State would be extended to him. BENEFITS ARRANGED FOR. “The public will see from the long list of those willing to assist in extending the maternity benefits of the social security scheme to as many mothers as possible, that the maternity benefits have been successfully arranged for, said Mr Fraser last evening. “The response from the obstetric nurses has been, in most districts, highly satisfactory. If there are any nurses who have not completed their contracts they would be well advised to do so without delay so that they will be in time for the first supplementary list. All public hospital maternity wards come in.o the maternity benefits scheme automatically. . J . “The large number of private maternity hospitals, which have contracted to provide hospital treatment in relation to maternity benefits, ensure that beds will be available in most localities. POSITION OF DOCTORS. “As was anticipated in view of the official attitude of the New Zealand branch of the British Medical Association the response from the medical profession has not been satisfactory, though those agreeing to participate and generally co-operate in the operation of the maternity benefits, together with the doctors on the staffs of public maternity hospitals and maternity wards of public hospitals, are sufficient to enable medical services in relation to maternity benefits to be established in many districts. “A number of doctors have signed the contracts conditionally, and though it, has not been possible to complete their contracts in time for the first list every effort will be made to meet all reasonable wishes as quickly as possible so that their names can appear on the supplementary list. “It has been represented to me that a considerable number of doctors, though they approve of the terms of the contract, feel bound by the pledge to their association which they were induced to sign last year in entirely different circumstances. Conditions have altered considerably since the pledge was signed, but. these doctors feel bound by the pledge at least up to a, point in spite of their approval of the contract. It is to be sincerely hoped that this difficulty will be overcome by a reasonable attitude on the part of all -’concerned. “I have further been informed that some practitioners fear that if they sign the contract in accordance with their own wishes, opinions, and consciences they would run the risk of professional injury through deliberate non-co-operation on the part of their fellow-practitioners. From my knowledge of the medical profession I have no hesitation in stating my belief that neither the official organisation nor any responsible section of the profession would stoop to such methods. “If, as is most unlikely, any irresponsible section or individual would be so misguided as to attempt any such retaliatory methods, then as soon as the attention of the Government was drawn to the fact steps would immediately be taken to combat such reprehensible action, and the full protection of the State would be extended to the practitioner against whom such methods were used. The boycott weapon, dangerous at all times and in all circumstances, would earn the reprobation of all decent people if applied in any form or under any pretext where the lives of mothers and babies were involved and possibly in danger.”

Dr D. G. McMILLAN. WORKING WITH MINISTER. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, May 12. An explanation of why his name does not appear in the list of doctors prepared to administer maternity benefits from Monday was given by Dt D. G. McMillan, M.P. for Dunedin West, in a statement. ‘•As I have been working with the Minister of Health on the details of the health service practically continuously since the middle of January, and will be so for some months yet," Dr McMillan said, ‘‘l am not at present in active practice. “If I were, I would certainly sign the contract. The scheme will not only make a full service available to everybody, but will also, in my opinion, make conditions for doctors better than hitherto.”