Report of the Department of Health / New Zealand.

  • New Zealand. Department of Health.
Date:
[1959]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Report of the Department of Health / New Zealand. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    14/144 (page 14)
    St. Helens Hospitals The Department administers a St. Helens Maternity Hospital in Auckland,' Wellington, and Christchurch. As well as assisting to meet the pressing need for increased maternity accommodation, these hospitals are the only training schools in New Zealand for the midwives required for our public hospital maternity wards and institutions, private mater¬ nity hospitals and field health services. Unfortunately, for a variety of reasons, the development of these hospitals has lagged behind public hospital development, with the consequence that they are well below modern hospital standards.. As part of a programme to bring the St. Helens Hospitals up to present-day standards and keep pace with future development, a Departmental Committee of Management was set up in Head Office last year to exercise a coordinating control over the three hospitals in much the same . manner as a hospital board controls the various institutions within its district. The Department has now, with Cabinet approval, embarked on an extensive St. Helens Hospitals building programme over the next 4-5 years in each of the three centres totalling some £1,250,000. This involves the complete replacement of the St. Helens Hospital in Auckland with a new 60-bed hospital, a new 60-bed block in Wellington, and the expansion of the St. Helens Hospital in Christchurch from 60 to 108 beds. Consultative Committee on Infant and Pre-School Health Services Early in March 1959 Government approved of a consultative com¬ mittee to inquire into and report on infant and pre-school health services. The members of the committee are Sir George Finlay of Auckland (Chairman), Mrs M. Dowse and Dr J. M. Watt of Lower Hutt, and Mr Malcolm J. Mason of Wellington. Before this annual report is published the committee will have commenced its hearing with an order of refer¬ ence including Existing services as compared with overseas; The functions and responsibility of the Government, the Plunket Society, hospital boards, and other agencies, in providing such services to the maximum efficiency with proper economy; The role of the Karitane hospitals; The definition of the financial responsibilities which should exist between the Government and voluntary organisations. It is hoped that this committee will bring down recommendations that will further the cooperation between Government and voluntary agencies in working together for the common good in this fundamental field of public health. I express my sincere thanks to staff at all levels for their willing and efficient work during the year-and particularly to Mr A. E. Galletly and Mr W. L. Turley who deputised for me whilst I was overseas. D. A. Hunn, Deputy Director-General (Administrative).