Sir, - I thoroughly enjoyed reading the States of Health articles and up until Friday's article thought them to be reasonably comprehensive. However, the article on the healthcare system in New Zealand (October 26th), although honest, was lacking as it failed to mention, never mind detail, the country's unique means of funding midwives to provide pregnant women with real choices for childbirth.
The Irish Times has featured several articles recently on the shortages of midwives, not nurses, in Ireland, and this latter article missed a rare opportunity to inform readers of the options that could and should be available for all woman and families during pregnancy, childbirth and the post-natal period in Ireland.
The New Zealand system of funding midwives to provide these patterns of care seems to acknowledge and value the role of women in society. It respects a woman's right to choose how and where to have their pregnancy care and give birth and acknowledges that there exists professional midwives. - Yours, etc.,
Deirdre Daly, Midwife, Harold's Cross, Dublin 6.