Shortfalls to be met

Press, 6 September 1986, Page 8

Shortfalls to be met

Concerns about shortfalls in training midwives in New Zealand would be met in a report being made by the Education Department, said the Minister of Health, Dr Bassett, in Christchurch yesterday. Dr Bassett told the inaugural national midwives’ conference that the department was evaluating the advanced nursing diploma courses, including the midwife op-

tion. Priority would be given to the department’s findings, he said.

Another issue of concern to midwives — the contract system for domiciliary midwives — would also be dealt with later this year, he said. Dr Bassett said that he had agreed to consult the Domiciliary Midwives Association, the New Zealand Nurses’ Association, and other groups with a view to updating the con-

tract system and introducing some forms of feenegotiating mechanism. He told the conference that he found the story of the emergence of the midwives’ group as a viable and professional body both interesting and challenging. New. Zealand midwives had always been highly skilled practitioners and staunch advocates for the mothers and babies in their care, he said.