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Domiciliary Midwifery (National Health Service Act, 1946, Section 23; &
Health Services and Public Health Act, 1968, Section 10)
In the exercise of their duty under Section 10(1) of the Health Services
and Public Health Act, 1968, Local Authorities must ensure that Midwives are
enabled to render all services reasonably necessary for the proper care of
the women upon whom they attend.
Subsection (2) confers on a Local Authority a power to provide or
make arrangements for the provision of Midwives for attendance on women
elsewhere than in their own homes, or in hospitals vested in the Minister.
The provision of radio-telephone communication for the six Domiciliary
Midwives employed by the Council has proved to be of great benefit in
emergencies, especially in areas where telephones are subject to vandalism;
and has greatly improved flexibility in the deployment of staff.
The number of cases delivered in hospitals, but discharged and attended
by Domiciliary Midwives before the 10th day was 364.
Twenty-three General-Practitioner-Obstetricians have the assistance of
Domiciliary Midwives at Ante-Natal Clinics held at their Surgeries This has
ensured continuity of patient care, especially for those patients booked for
planned early discharge; and those whose confinements are to be conducted
by Domiciliary Midwives and General Practitioners in General Practitioner
Units in Maternity Hospitals
General Practitioner beds are available at St. Mary Abbot s Hospital.
C. 7