10
-
Thursday, June 28, 1973
PLANS TO LOOK AFTER EXPECTANT MOTHERS
Commenting on the outcome of tonight's meeting of government
midwives, the Director of Medical and Health Services, Dr. G.H. Choa
announced this (Thursday) evening that arrangements had been made to
minimise any inconvenience to expectant mothers and to allay their understandable
worry or concern.
"I would be sorry if the midwives decided to take this step
because obviously our midwifery service will no doubt be much inconvenienced,"
Dr. Choa said. "I have always believed in the high sense of responsibility
both personal and professional, which midwives have shown, and I sincerely
hope that they will reconsider this decision.
"As we seid a few days ago, the Government will further consider
the position of the midwives, if they can produce the evidence they say
they have that other organisations pay better salaries and benefits to
their counterparts in the private sector than Government does.
"But the threat of resignation has been made, not once but several
times, and it is now necessary, in the circumstances and in order to
allay concern, to announce our plans so that expectant mothers will not
be inconvenienced by such action,"
Dr. Choa emphasised that, although government midwives had been
working minimum normal hours since Tuesday, April 10, and eight maternity
clinics out of 27 had been closed, deliveries had continued normally; no
untoward incident had occurred although clearly there has been some inconvenience.
/Plans