Story: Primary health care

Joan Donley

Joan Donley

In the early 1970s midwives began to re-establish their historical independence from doctors, despite the fact that from 1971 doctors had to be present at all births. Home-birth midwife Joan Donley (back centre) was a leading midwifery practitioner and activist. Her 1986 book Save the midwife charted the history of midwifery in New Zealand and argued for a return to midwives' independence.

Using this item

Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand
Reference: Joan Donley, Save the midwife. Auckland: New Women’s Press, 1986.
Photograph by Gil Hanly

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How to cite this page:

Michael Belgrave, 'Primary health care - Challenges to GPs, late 20th century', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/31528/joan-donley (accessed 30 March 2024)

Story by Michael Belgrave, published 5 May 2011, reviewed & revised 4 Apr 2019