More Info →Foxton Maternity Home 1942-1982 Page 48

Description

On 24th September 1982, a petition was signed by 1,023 concerned citizens over the proposed closure of Foxton Maternity Home. (697 Foxton residents, 241 Beach residents, and 85 from outlying areas,) and sent to Palmerston North Hospital Board,

... but to no avail.

News Not Good...

Hon Mr A G Malcolm, the Minister of Health announced
On Thursday 2nd December 1982 that

The Foxton Maternity Home was to be closed.

This was a great disappointment to all townspeople. Sadly, the weight of evidene against the hospital was overwhelming. The closure ended a long two-year-battle by Foxton residents to save their hospital.
The Foxton Maternity Home did not reach the minimal clinical and staffing standard required or the minimum use recommended by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

The savings of $150,000 was to be used by the Palmerston North Hospital Boar to strengthen existing obstetric services in the board's area, and a domiciliary nursing service in Foxton would be maintained.

MP Mr Aussie Malcolm wanted the people of Foxton to know that he had studied all the given facts carefully, before he decided to accept the Hospital Advisory Council's recommendation for closure, and it was a decision that did not come easily.

Hospital Board chairman Dr Gordon Cumming, used his casting vote to carry his recommendation for the home's closure. He knew that his use of the casting vote wouk create anger. Dr Cumming had spent a sleepless night over his decision to use his casting vote if it should happen that way, but he had to stick to his own motion.
The board voted seven in favour and seven against the closure...

The MP for Horowhenua Mr Geoff Thompson, declared his extreme disappointmel at the decision, and re-iterated that the Foxton community had made substantial efforts to resist a closure. He also had lobbied as hard as possible, (and had kept in touch with the busy Foxton Maternity Home Action Committee throughout the whole situation) but the amount of evidence against the home was too strong.
Board member Mr Maurice Sexton was also disappointed with the closure decision. He had lobbied strongly for a non-closure and felt that although the logic towards the closure was robust, it was a pity to see the Foxton community lose its crucial centrepoint, and that the 'savings' would not help the townsfolk.

Southern area board member Dr WHC Teppett was not surprised at the final decison and knew the district would be very disappointed, but from the Boards view it had to [continued on next page]

Identification

Date

2005