Place of the general practitioner in the obstetric service.

A survey of perinatal mortality in Northern Ireland has shown that despite a progressive fall in the proportion of deliveries at home the perinatal mortality rate in domiciliary practice has risen in recent years. Overall, however, the perinatal mortality rate for all deliveries compares well with English figures. It seems that as the proportion of deliveries in hospital and general-practitioner obstetric unit rises a hard core of high risk patients is left who insist on delivery at home. Three prerequisites for good general-practice obstetrics are careful selection of cases, intelligent antenatal care, and close co-operation between the general practitioner and the consultant.