Department of Health

Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, Volume XV, Issue 2, 1 April 1922, Page 79

Department of Health

Circular Letter to all Maternity Nurses and Midwives

Wellington, 9th March, 1922. Dear Madam, — The Health Department feels very strongly that all nurses — especially maternity nurses and midwives — should do their utmost to keep themselves as highly qualified and up-to-date as possible m matters bearing on the proper care and safe-guarding of mother and child, both before and after childbirth. Xo one can exercise a greater influence for good or do a better public service than the nurse placed m the position of advising and caring for the expectant or nursing mother. In order to help m this important matter, Dr. Truby King, Director of Child Welfare, has arranged to hold meetings throughout the Dominion, m conjunction with a highly-qualified igeneral hospital and maternity nurse of wide experience, for the express purpose of speaking and demonstrating to maternity nurses and midwives and discussing with them the best means of helping mother and child and saving them from mistakes during pregnancy and after the child is born, as well as promoting saTe and healthy childbirth. Miss Paterson, who has been appointed by the Government to accompany Dr. Truby King, will pay special attention to showing how the nurse can promote successful breast-feeding, by advising and training the prospective mother on right lines during pregnancy and afterwards, and by giving the best advice and showing the best practical technique for establishing breast-feeding m the first instance or restoring suckling after weaning. Miss Paterson will also explain and demonstrate the best and simplest way to supplement the breast supply, or to feed artificially m the first month if this cannot be avoided.

The Director-General of Health trusts that every maternity nurse and midwife m the Dominion will avail herself of the special opportunity now offered of further qualifying herself for helping and safeguarding mother and child. Tf it happens to be impossible for any particular nurse to attend, the authorities trust she will write to the Health Department, Wellington, stating the reason and giving such particulars as may enable the authorities to arrange for a special lecture and demonstration at a mutually convenient time and place. — Yours faithfully, (Sgd.) T. H. A. VALINTINE, Director-General of Health.

[Editorial Note. — There is no qualification as materntiy nurse m New Zealand, but the above circular is intended for all midwives who work under medical practitioners as maternity nurses. Miss Patterson is an English nurse who worked under Dr. Truby King at the Mothercraft Hospital, London, and afterwards travelled with him to Poland on infant welfare work. She is not practising her profession m New Zealand, but m the course of a visit to the Dominion has been specially requested by Dr. King to accompany him on his lecturing tour throughout New Zealand.]