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88
hours or even longer with these patients This calls for redistribution
of work every day in order that those women already
delivered may receive the necessary attention It may be that
some "shift system" will have to be considered for the future
There were 555 deliveries attended by the midwives during
1957 and 76 women were discharged from hospitals before the 14th
day (usually the third day following delivery),, This work together
amounted to 12,971 visits Most of the patients sent home by
hospitals are s:ent in by the midwife who has already spent many
hours with them before admission
In addition to deliveries and nursing visits the midwives
make visits to the patients" homes during the ante-natal period,
attend ante natal clinics and also give instruction in the use of
the gas and air and trilene apparatus.
The present bookings still show an upward trend and the
difficulty of obtaining a hospital bed often results in a home
booking having to be made for the patient who on social circum
stances should be delivered in hospital These patients sometimes
cause very grave anxiety to doctors and midwives
In addition some women including immigrants to this country
make no arrangements for their confinements having been advised
by their friends to telephone for an ambulance when labour begins
Sometimes they are successful in obtaining an emergency bed but
at other times it results in the mother having her baby at home as
an emergency with no preparations made for the confinement