TRAINING OF MIDWIVES.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5027, 15 September 1926, Page 2

TRAINING OF MIDWIVES.

THAMES ANNEXE EXCLUDED. REGISTRATION BOARD’S DECISION Despite ■ the fact that the Thames Hcspita] Board boasts of an up-to-date maternity annexe a definite refusal has been given to the board’s application to have the annexe included in those institutions in which a nurse can qualify in midwifery. The members of the board have made every endeavour to have the annexe recognised, but without result. At Monday’s meeting df the board a letter was, received from the DirectorGeneral of Health advising that it had been faAmd necessary to reduce the number of institutions in which midwives could be trained. Consequently a limited number df hospitals formerly recognised as training schools had been approved as training schools for midwives, all ethers being restricted to training in maternity nursing only. / It was confidently expected that tlie majority of registered nurses would, as time, went on, realise that the maternity nursing coursei would be sufficient to give them the necessary insight into midwifery work. Already very few of those registered as midwives undertook that branch of nursing except under the direction of a medical practitioner. A copy of the board’s letter and the reply of the Director-General had been forwarded to the Nurses* and Midwives’ Registration Board. The Nurses’ and Midwives’ Registration Board also wrote on the same subject as follbws ! —

“The Director-General of Health referred to the last meeting of this board a protest he received from your board regarding the decision 6t my board refusing approval of your hospital as a training school for midwives, and I was instructed to inform yota that my board is unable to reconsider its decision, and also to point out that since the coming into law bf the Nurses’ and Midwives’ Registration Act on January 1 last it has been found necessary to reduce the number of institutions in which midwives may be trained, a,nd‘ in consequence' thereof a very limited number of hospitals have been approved for that purpose. It is not anticipated that many of the registered maternity nurses will desire to further their studies and qualify as midwives, as very few women at the present time Will undertake maternity nursing except under the direction of a medical practitioner. In a further communication the Registration Bofei,rd advised that the minimum age at which nurses might obtain registration had been fixed at 22 years.

The chairman (Mr W. E. Hale) said that the, position was most unfortunate.

Mr J. Rowe said tha.t the number should not be limited. It appeared as if the Government was seeking support and finance hy practically compelling nurses to complete, their training at the St. Helen’s Homes.’ The chairman agreed, and said that there were far more applicants for training at St. Helen’s tha,n there were vacancies