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LIAISON WITH G.Ps AND HOSPITALS, ETC.
Co-operation with other agencies particularly hospitals and general practitioners developed satisfactorily.
The attachment and liaison arrangements of health visitors to general practitioners continued, and
it was possible to attach one further health visitor full time to a group practice during the year. Health
visitors took part in a number of surveys during the year.
PUBLISHED PAPERS
1. Nursing Times. Vol.65. No.24. 29.5.69.
"New Health Visitors and Students - their difficulties" - Miss L.K. May.
2. Health Visitor. Vol.42. July 69.
"Difficulties of Health Visitor Students" - Miss L.K. May.
DOMICILIARY MIDWIFERY
The pattern of domiciliary midwifery in 1969 continued with the same trend as the previous year
resulting in a decline in home confinements; planned and unplanned early discharges from hospitals
remained the same.
In addition to 254 home confinements, 67 other patients were booked for domiciliary confinement
but subsequently transferred to the hospital service before delivery for the following reasons:-
Complications of pregnancy 38. Premature labour 5. In labour at term 24
There were 7 calls for the services of the emergency obstetric unit.
The planned early discharge scheme from hospital resulted in 468 assessments of home conditions being
made; 96 homes were found to be unsuitable.
477 patients (including unplanned early discharges) were nursed at home following hospital delivery.
MATERNAL DEATHS
Confidential enquiries in accordance with Department of Health and Social Security instructions were
initiated into the deaths of 5 women who had been Islington residents. In no case was the Council's staff
involved.
STILLBIRTHS
There was 1 domiciliary stillbirth during the year. Foetal heart was not heard at the ante-natal clinic
on day of confinement; an appointment was made for the patient to see a consultant but she went into
spontaneous labour in the evening and delivered at home.
TRAINING
The Council's eight domiciliary midwives continued to train pupil midwives from the City of London
Maternity Hospital and St. Mary's Hospital, Paddington. During 1969, 30 pupils completed their district
experience and a further 5 were in training at the end of the year. In November, the training facilities for
pupil midwives were inspected by the Central Midwives Board and found to be satisfactory.
GUTHRIE TESTING
At the end of 1969, domiciliary midwives commenced screening tests for phenylketanuria by the
Guthrie Blood Test method. All babies born at home, those discharged home before the sixth day and any
discharged from hospital without having the test performed were visited by the Council's midwives.
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