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Supervision of Midwives practising in the Borough.
The Supervisor of Midwives in the Borough is the Senior
Assistant Medical Officer for Maternity and Child Welfare (Dr.
Helen Campbell).
During 1934, 102 midwives notified their intention to practise
midwifery; at the end of the year it was found that 64 midwives
only were actually practising in the Borough. This apparent discrepancy
is accounted for by the fact that a certain number of pupil
midwives practise for a short period from their training schools in
the Borough after passing the Central Midwives' Board examination.
A large number of these midwives practise under the aegis of
one of the several training schools or nursing associations in the
neighbourhood. The standard of midwifery is high; there is no
difficulty for any patient in obtaining the services of a qualified
midwife, and there is no excuse for the employment by any
medical practitioner in the Borough of an untrained handywoman
to assist him at confinement cases.
The number of cases attended by midwives during the year
was:—
(a) As midwives 2145
(b) As maternity nurses 205
Medical aid was summoned under Section 14 (1) of the Midwives'
Act, 1918, in 503 cases.
The number of births notified by midwives (i.e. by midwives
practising in local maternity hospitals and in the district) = 4,718,
which is equivalent to 81.6% of the total notified births.
Stratford Day Nursery.
The Stratford Day Nursery is provided by a Voluntary Association,
but receives a grant from the Council. It is the only
institution of its kind in the Borough, and serves a useful purpose
in helping the mothers who are obliged to leave their young
children daily while they go out to work. There is accommodation
at the Nursery for fifty children from early infancy to school age.
During 1934 there were 6,925 total attendances, making an
average daily attendance of 32 children. The Association makes
a daily charge of 8d. per child.
Sunlight Treatment for Children under 5 years of age.
1 his specialised treatment can be obtained at the Stratford
Day Nursery Sunlight Clinic, under the supervision of Dr. Eva
Morton. The arrangement made in 1928 between the Maternity
and Child Welfare Committee and the Committee of the Day
Nursery is still in force, whereby young children may be drafted
tor treatment from any of the Welfare Centres in the Borough,
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