DON'T SHOOT THE OBSTETRICIAN
SIR,—Monica Furlong, in her rather ill-considered and muddled piece headed 'Don't Shoot the Ob- stetrician,' has ehosety.,to take a potshot (or is it a broadside?) at the and at the Association for Improvements in the Maternity Services. Who did write the letter that alarmed Mrs. Furlong so much that she rushed into type in defence of what before in your columns she has so ably 'exposed'?
May I point out for the benefit of your readers, as Mrs. Furlong herself knows this very well already, that AIMS (started in April this year) has between 400 and 500 members who come from almost every district of the British Isles? Members include consultants, surgeons, obstetricians, doctors, psychiatrists, physiologists, dentists, psychologists, sehoolteachers (a large number of these), midwives, nurses, mothers, fathers, grandmothers, physio- therapists, journalists, civil servants, librarians, bio- chemists, sociologists, artists, designers, welfare workers and an optioitm, and I dotlbt if all these people are being led blindly by me (or by anyone else) or that they arc given to making 'wild, hysterical suggestions.' - Anyone who cares to read our literature will see
SPECTATOR.. OCTOBER 14 that we want to draw public attention and interest to the wide variation in standards that exists between one maternity hOspital and another (we would like to see them all brought to the high standard of the best). We hope to do this by talking and writing and collecting information and facts in the form of signed accounts of experiences and questionnaires. We are forming ourselves into areas under regional organisers to keep vigil. We ask anyone who feels that they have been treated badly to contact -their nearest AIMS regional organisers imniediately. Many people have felt that there is much which is unsatisfactory in our maternity services. We want• proof. Mrs'. Furlong says, 'Money and nurses matter. more than anything else.' She then goes on to g1" an example of humanity and kindness from worked short-staffed medical stall in unfaVourable buildings: We ask for details of good as well as b?!1. hospiials, because people should knoW which 15,, whieh..Of course money is needed for replacing. all kinds and Shapes of out-'-of-date hospitals (OP' ' about the plight of many old people wearing out the end of their lives .in a general hospital ward?); of course the increasing shortage of nurses and wives needs-investigating befdre more hospitals closf.', their doors (iieW:doors, too, sometimes) through )'ter' of staff. More money under the Welfare State in:411.5 more .goverrinrnt money,-:more ,money from taxpayers. Are we or are we not Prepared to Par. for n proper ,Health Service? Have we the onag, to organise it properly? Are we prepared to take
the treatment we „deserve if we fail to take on in '" terest in our hosnitals? People today 'are
about .,almost e,veryfhing. They- will take al”tf'"'', (including so-called ;atrocity7.itories, though perh111"t not cruelty to dogs) with a pinch- of satt nil"; the urging hand of Monica Furlong. But is it too mucb Joy ask some of the medical profession to
. drinka pinta human kindness?—;Yours faithfully.
• e SONIA WWI istd1) Association for Improvements in the Maternity Services, 1 Ratchwood Gardens, St. Albans, 11,115
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