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71
Finance.
Of the 660 patients attended by the midwives acting as midwives,
182 were charged the full amount, to 78 no charge was made,
while 400 were assisted. The corresponding figures in regard to
the 350 patients attended by the midwives acting as maternity
nurses were 269, seven and 74.
Midwives Medical Aid Notices.
At the meeting of the Public Health Committee on 15th
September, 1937, it was reported that Circular 1622 had been
considered at a meeting of the local practitioners, when the following
resolutions were passed:— "(1) That in order to obtain the best
possible local obstetric skill we should support the policy of the
local authority in forming a list of local practitioners, open to all
practitioners willing to undertake obstetric work on the summons
of a midwife under the rules of the Central Midwives' Board.
(2) That we should establish a liaison between the profession and
the local authority by setting up a consultative committee, consisting
of members of the local profession and of the local
authority, with a view to the maintenance of a high standard of
midwifery."
The Public Health Committee were authorised, in conjunction
with the local medical practitioners, to prepare and maintain a
list of practitioners willing to undertake obstetric work upon
receipt of a summons by a midwife under the rules of the Central
Midwives' Board, and nominated five of their members as representatives
on the proposed Joint Consultative Committee. The
Harrow Branch of the British Medical Association nominated as
their representative to serve on the Committee, Dr. Christie
Brown, the Council's Consultant Gynaecologist, and four local
medical practitioners.
All practitioners practising in the area were communicated
with and invited to intimate whether they would be available to
respond to a midwife's summons, and, if so, whether they would
be available for any emergency or only for an emergency arising
with regard to their own patients. At the same time they were
invited to nominate from those included on the list a deputy to
act for them if necessary. Of the 150 practitioners written to 74
wished to be included in the list. Of these, 35 were willing to be
of service in any part of the district, 22 were willing to respond
only to calls from restricted areas, 13 would be available in any
part of the district but only in respect of their own patients, while
four would be available only for those patients in respect of whom
they had undertaken ante-natal supervision. A further communication
brought in replies from others, so that by the end of the year
the names of 95 practitioners were on the list.