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TRAINING OF PUPIL MIDWIVES
All six of the Council's midwives have been approved by the Central Midwives
Board as teaching district midwives and four pupil midwives were accepted for training in
each three-monthly period throughout the year.
OBSTETRIC NURSE TRAINING
The Council's midwives have also given facilities for nurses in general training
to accompany them on their rounds and to attend ante-natal clinics.
EARLY DISCHARGE SCHEME
In order to make greater use of maternity beds, many hospitals made arrangements
with the London County Council during 1963 and 1964 for the early discharge of an agreed
number of cases every month to the care of the domiciliary midwives. By 1st April, 1965,
schemes were in existence with six hospitals for the early discharge of twenty cases a month
to midwives in this borough. Although pressure on hospital maternity beds was much reduced
by this time, there was still a demand for "early discharge", as the scheme had become
popular amongst the mothers themselves. Some would only agree to hospital confinement if
they could return home shortly afterwards.
During 1965, therefore, early discharge schemes were arranged with three more
hospitals to take six patients a month, and a further two patients were accepted monthly from
one hospital already participating in the scheme.
Patients for "planned early discharge" are carefully selected by the hospital
obstetrician and all arrangements are made with the co-operation of the domiciliary midwife
and the patient's general practitioner. Home conditions are assessed by the midwife to undertake
the nursing of the patient at home, and the services of a home help are sought if necessary.
In addition to these planned discharges, there occur "unplanned early discharges".
Some are mothers whose babies are stillborn or die within the first few days; others wish to
return home because they are anxious about their other children, or for other reasons; and
sometimes the patient discharges herself against the advice of the hospital.
During 1965, no difficulty was experienced in providing puerperal nursing for
these "unplanned early discharges" and a total of fifty-three were attended, nine by the
Council's midwives and forty-four by midwives of the Kensington District Nursing Association.
MIDWIVES ACT, 1951
Under the National Health Service Act, 1946, the Council are the local supervising
authority for the purposes of the Midwives Act, and have a duty to inspect and supervise
all midwives practising in their area.
Notifications received from midwives of intention to
practice 116
Refresher courses attended by midwives in accordance
with Section G of the rules of the Central Midwives
Board 14
Fees paid to medical practitioners called in by mid-
wives in emergency 3 cases
THE DAY CARE OF CHILDREN
Much attention has been focussed recently on provision being made by local
authorities, voluntary bodies and private individuals for the care of pre-school children who,