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with those who are to be nursed at home by the domiciliary midwife under
the PLANNED early discharge scheme. The integration of the work of the
domiciliary midwife with that of the family doctor has provided greater
continuity of care for the mother.
Participation by Domiciliary Midwives in General Practitioner Units
in Maternity Hospitals
During the year, 78 mothers were confined in St. Mary Abbots General
Practitioner Unit under the care of the family doctor and the domiciliary
midwife. A similar scheme, known as the Queen Charlotte's General Practitioner
Bed Scheme, begins at Queen Charlotte's Hospital at the end of
the year.
Maternity Liaison Committees
The Maternity Liaison Committees which consist of representatives of
the Maternity Hospitals and general practitioners are attended by the Medical
Officer of Health, the Chief Nursing Officer and the Non-Medical
Supervisor of Midwives.
Midwifery Training
All the domiciliary midwives are approved teachers for the purpose
of training pupil midwives for Part 2 of the Examination of the Central
Midwives Board. Pupils are received from Queen Charlotte's Hospital for
Part 2 training within the Borough.
Health Visiting (National Health Service Act, 1946, Section 24)
Under Section 24 of the National Health Service Act, 1946, it is the
duty of every local health authority to make provision in their area for
the visiting of persons in their homes by health visitors for the purpose
of giving advice on the care of young children; persons suffering from
illnesses; expectant or nursing mothers; and on the measures necessary
to prevent the spread of infection. Section 11 of the Health Services and
Public Health Act, 1968, enables local health authorities to make provision
for the visiting by health visitors of persons elsewhere than in
their homes.
The Council continues to provide practical training for 7 student
health visitors, and has seconded members of staff to undertake the course
for field work instructors in accordance with the requirements of the
Training Council for Health Visitors.
The organisation of health visitors in groups in the areas in which
they work has continued to make them easily accessible to any family in
need of their help. Mothers from abroad with young children continue to
use the health visitor as the first line of approach when needing advice
on social and health problems. The total number of visits paid during
the year by health visitors was 72,978, (65,243). The figure for 1969
includes 14,403 unsuccessful visits.
Health education at the personal level continues to be one of the
health visitors' main functions. Talks on health subjects are given in
schools and to meetings of groups and clubs.
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