London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Kensington and Chelsea 1966
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington & Chelsea Borough]
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The Council's midwives have continued to take pupil midwives for
their Part II midwifery district training. One pupil is accepted from
Paddington General Hospital and two from Fulham Maternity Hospital every
three-monthly period throughout the year. Each pupil is allocated to
one of the domiciliary midwives and attends all home confinements and
early discharge cases in the midwife's area of practice. It was necessary
to reduce the number of pupils received from Fulham Maternity Hospital to
two during 1966 because the fall in the number of domiciliary confinements
would otherwise have made it impossible for the pupils to attend the
requisite ten confinements during their three months' district training.
In some cases, it was necessary to arrange for the pupil midwife to
attend confinements in neighbouring boroughs.
Obstetric Nurse training.
Facilities have been provided for nurses in general training to
accompany the Council's midwives on the district and attend ante-natal
clinics. Student district nurses have also visited the midwives to see
the nature of their work.
Early Discharge Scheme.
Home assessment visits are made by midwives (including the midwives
of the Kensington District Nursing Association and Queen Charlotte's
Hospital) at the request of hospitals when women are being considered for
admission on social grounds or for "early discharge".
There has been an increase in the number of unplanned early
discharges. In many cases, family circumstances have necessitated the
mother's returning home as soon as possible and, in some cases, the
baby has been stillborn or died within the first few days and the mother
has asked to go home at the earliest opportunity. In all cases, a
midwife is asked to attend the mother and baby throughout the remainder
of the puerperal period.
Midwives Act. 1951. The Council are the local supervising authority for the purposes of the Midwives Act, 1951. and have a duty to inspect and supervise all midwives practising in the area.
| 1966 | 1965 | |
|---|---|---|
| Notifications received from midwives of intention to practice | 102 | 116 |
| Refresher courses attended by midwives in accordance with Section 9 of the rules of the Central Midwives Board | 7 | 14 |
| Fees paid to medical practitioners called in by midwives in emergency | 2 | 3 |
CARE OF CHILDREN.
Council Day Nurseries.
The demand in the borough for day care for young pre-school
children continued with consequent pressure on the Council's day
nurseries accommodation. Children even in the priority groups had to