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128
APPENDIX.
REPORTS OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH AND OF
THE BOROUGH SURVEYOR SUBMITTED TO THE COUNCIL ON
21st DECEMBER, 1938.
(1) Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
I beg to report on the present conditions obtaining at the
Borough Council Maternity Home, Bolingbroke Grove, and on the
District Midwifery service attached thereto.
I have reported to the Health Committee from time to time
on the very great difficulty experienced in the recruiting of nursing
staff for the hospital during the past two years or more. Recently
the position with regard to nursing staff has become more acute
and has created serious difficulties in the running of the institution.
The shortage of nurses, which is general, is, in my opinion, due
to several causes—
(i) The law of supply and demand—the demand for the
services of nurses has increased considerably in recent
years, and the demand has not been met by an increasing
number of entrants to the profession.
(ii) In many instances the working hours have been reduced
in number, necessitating increased nursing staff.
(iii) The profession of nursing has not yet been made
ciently attractive to appeal to any large section of
young women.
(iv) The age on entry into the profession and the length of
the period of training.
The extension of the period of training for the certificate of the
Central Midwives Board will undoubtedly result, for a time at least,
in a further reduction in the number of qualified midwives.
In view of the shortage of nursing staff it is, in my opinion,
inevitable that a small institution such as the Borough Council's
Maternity Hospital will suffer more acutely than larger institutions
where the improved prospects of promotion and the added social
amenities offer greater attractions, and it appears almost certain
that for some considerable time the Council will be faced with even
greater difficulty in securing nursing staff necessary for the efficient
working of the hospital.
The full complement of permanent nursing staff required for
the hospital is:—
Matron.
Two Sisters.
Four Staff Nurses.