New plaque pays tribute to pioneering midwives

By Julie Griffiths on 26 July 2018 RCM President Midwives

A new plaque was unveiled today (26 July) paying tribute to renowned midwives Zepherina Veitch and Dame Rosalind Paget.

RCM president Kathryn Gutteridge unveiled the plaque at The Hospital Club – a private members’ club in Covent Garden, London.

Zepherina (1836-94) and Rosalind (1855-1948) both trained at the British Lying-In Hospital, which was built in 1849 and functioned as a maternity hospital until 1913, but the building now houses the private members club where the plaque now sits. 

The plaque is one of the Seven Dials Trust’s ‘People’s Plaques’, which celebrate individuals and institutions that have made a special contribution to London and beyond.

In the 70th year of the NHS, the plaque is a reminder of those whose work helped transform medical practices to the benefit of London and beyond.

Kathryn said: ‘This is a wonderful accolade for two pioneering and trailblazing midwives and in this year of celebrating women’s suffrage it is right that they receive this recognition.  

‘Both of these women did so much to advance not just the practice of midwifery but also the profession’s importance and status. All midwives are following in their footsteps and all midwives owe these women a huge debt of gratitude for what they achieved.’