WORK OUTSTANDING

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 278, 21 August 1944, Page 4

WORK OUTSTANDING

Prevention Of Maternal Mortality , DR. PAGET’S RETIREMENT The outstanding value of the work done by Dr. T. L. Paget, former Director of paternal Welfare, in the interests of the women and children of New Zealand, was mentioned by Dr. M. H. Watt, Director-General of Health, at a departmental farewell on the occasion of Dr, Paget’s retirement. “His work has been acknowledged by his colleagues in the profession as a triumph in the preventive field, and the results that have been achieved unquestionably justify that,” said Dr. Watt. He quoted figures to show that the maternal mortality rate in New Zealand had dropped from 6.48 a 1000 live births in 1920 (the second highest in the world) to 2.21 in 1943, the lowest in the world. In the years following the last war, public conscience became awakened to the high rate of maternal mortality, and a special committee of inquiry was set up in 1921. Three years later five deaths in an Auckland maternity hospital from puerperal sepsis again focused attention on the problem, and_.a Royal Commission was apointed to inquire and report. In that year, 1942, Dr. Paget was appointed inspector of hospitals, and Dr. Henry Jellett consultant obstetrician. In 1937 Dr. Paget was appointed Director of Maternal Welfare, a post in which he had given distinguished service. “Dr. Paget joined the department at an age when many people think about retiring,” added Dr. Watt. “He had an established reputation as a general -practitioner with an unusual experience in hospital management, and he brought to his new task ability, experience, and a high sense of public duty.” Dr. Paget was presented with a revolving bookcase on behalf of the staff. In his reply, Dr. Paget said that he looked back on his service with the department ap the happiest and most productive period of his career. He had received great assistance in the early days from Dr. Jellett.