The history of obstetrics in Northern Ireland 1921-1992

In 1921 there was little provision for the care of the pregnant woman in Northern Ireland where there were only two hospitals staffed by specialist obstetricians. The mortality statistics reflected this, the province having the highest maternal mortality and the second highest infant mortality rates in the United Kingdom. There was little progress until the establishment of the National Health Service in 1948. Within a short time, excellent hospital specialist and domiciliary midwifery services were developed. Scientific advances, mainly during the 1970's, led to further expansion of the specialist service and the disappearance of the general practitioner service. These advances have again been reflected in the statistics. The maternal mortality is now zero and the perinatal mortality 8 per 1,000 births.