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Training of Pupil Midwives.
Between April, 1965 and September, 1967, the number of pupil midwives
accepted for training in the borough had to be reduced from four to one to
ensure that each pupil could be guaranteed the minimum of ten cases
required by the Central Midwives Board.
This shortage of training cases has, however, been experienced in many
other areas including the midwifery "districts" of training hospitals, and
early in 1968, the Central Midwives Board informed midwifery training
hospitals that a minimum of six cases would be accepted, provided that
pupils were given extra training to cover community care and the social
services.
This borough was invited by Paddington General Hospital (now St. Mary's
(Harrow Road) Hospital) to submit proposals for such a training scheme and,
after discussion between the Council's medical and nursing officers, and
the hospital midwifery superintendents, a programme of visits and informal
teaching was worked out to cover all aspects of the social services
including the mental health, welfare and home help and children's services,
the care of the unmarried mother, and the services for the physically
handicapped. The programme was approved by the Central Midwives Board in
September and, on 1st December, 1968, two pupil midwives were accepted for
training under the new scheme.
Obstetric Nurse Training.
A small number of nurses in training at St. George's Hospital have
received instruction from the Council's midwives.
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.
The following table gives details:-
1967
1968
Notifications received from midwives
of intention to practice
125
100
Refresher courses attended by midwives
in accordance with Section 9 of
the rules of the Central Midwives Board
12
8
Fees paid to medical practitioners called
in by midwives in emergency
Nil
Nil
HEALTH VISITING.
This highly cosmopolitan area, of shifting population, many in multioccupied
properties, a high illegitimacy rate and large numbers of
children in the care of daily minders, provides wide and varied experience
for the health visiting staff who work in the borough. It is also an
expensive area for the newly qualified student or newly married to live.
In consequence, there is constant movement amongst the staff. Of a total
of 31.4 health visitors at the end of the year, 12 health visitors had
been in the service of the borough for less than two years. Despite this
movement, the staffing position has been maintained.