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10.
The attendances during 1945 were a record, both as regards the number
of patients seen and the total number of attendances made by them.

Provision for Confinement.
Very complete provision is made by the Council.
For domiciliary confinement a Municipal Midwife can be booked, either
to take charge of the patient as a midwifery case or to assist the doctor
if he is engaged for the confinement. (In the Watling area the watling
District Nursing Association provides the service under arrangements made
between the Association and the Council).
Midwifery Staff.
The number of Municipal Midwives employed by the Council remaining
unchanged - 8. There were no changes in staff during the year.
Gas and Air Analgesia is given by six of the Municipal Midwives. Owing
to the restrictions placed by Central Midwives Board Rules upon the
administration, the number of cases delivered with the aid of Gas and Air
Analgesia is limited. However the figure is increasing - 31 cases in 1945
compared with 15 in 1944.
Home Helps. In cases where adequate domestic assistance cannot be found
by the patient the services of a Municipal Home Help can be engaged.
Fifteen are employed, ten on a full-time and five on a part-time basis.
During the year home help was provided in 208 cases.
When it is realised that without this help most of these patients
would have been compelled to occupy beds in Institutions, it will be clear
that the Home Help Service plays a vital part in relieving the strain on