Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras, Metropolitan Borough]
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43
Midwives.
In the Metropolis, the supervising authority for midwives is the London County
Council. According to figures supplied by that authority, the number of midwives who, in
1933, had notified their intention to practise in St. Pancras was 44. Only 12 of this number
are engaged in private practice, the remainder are on the staff of various hospitals and
institutions in the Borough.
Private midwives are not subsidised by the Borough Council, but a subsidy is paid
for each approved necessitous case attended in the patient's home by midwives on the staff of
certain hospitals and by midwives employed by the Maternity Nursing Association.
The subsidy is not paid in cases where "Maternity benefit" is payable under the
National Health Insurance Act.
Midwifery.
There are a large number of institutions, situated either within or near the Borough,
which provide midwifery attendance, either at the patient's home or by admission as
in-patients.
In the following table particulars are given, for 1933, with reference to all St. Pancras women who were attended in their confinements by the staff of the various institutions:—
Institution. | Admitted as In-patients. | Attended at Home. | |
---|---|---|---|
By Students. | By Midwives. | ||
University College Hospital | 331 | 273 | 8 |
Royal Free Hospital | 80 | 17 | .. |
Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital | 49 | .68 | .. |
St. Pancras Hospital | 411 | .. | .. |
Middlesex Hospital | 109 | .. | 27 |
Queen Charlotte's Hospital | 74 | .. | .. |
City of London Hospital | 37 | .. | .. |
Royal Northern Hospital | 24 | .. | .. |
St. Bartholomew's Hospital | 1 | .. | .. |
Other hospitals | 94 | .. | .. |
Queen Mary's Maternity Home | 52 | .. | .. |
Maternity Nursing Association | .. | .. | 224 |
Totals | 1262 | 358 | 259 |
* Attended by qualified staff. |
It will be seen from the above table that full use is made of the institutional facilities
which are available.