RATHBONE MATERNITY HOSPITAL

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 101, 23 January 1926, Page 8

RATHBONE MATERNITY HOSPITAL

STARTLING DEATH-RATE OF MOTHERS

On Wednesday last a maternity hospital, erected by the generosity of the trustees in the Lissie Rathbone Estate at a cost of £7343, was opened by the Hon. Sir Maui Pomare, ’who made reference in the course of his remarks to the high maternity death rate. Sir Maui Pomare said that the maternal mortality rate in Denmark was 2.13 per thousand, and in England 3.8, while in New Zealand it was 5.1 per thousand. A special report on the causes had now reached him. Briefly he was advised that the yeason for the death rate being’ so low in Denmark w’as due to the efficiency of the midwives and to. the ifbn-interfer-ence by doctors. Up to very lately in New Zealand they had not had the effi’ciency aimed at in the midwives, and there had been too much interference by the doctors. He ’ confidently expected the establishing of maternity hospitals would bring about a great improvement, especially where workej, in conjunction with ante natal clinics., Dr. Valintine, Director of Health, said New Zealand had enough general .hospitals, but more maternity hospitals were needed. They were wanted not only for the prospective mothers, but also for the adequate and scientific training of midwives. In New Zealand there are 2000 midwives, 1129 of whom are in actual work, and there are 279 class D midwives.