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40
DOMICILIARY MIDWIFERY SERVICE
The Council discharges its responsibility for the domiciliary midwifery service
under the National Health Act 1946, by the direct employment of midwives and
through arrangements with the South London Hospital and Lambeth District Nursing
Association.
The demand for hospital maternity beds continues to be heavy, and the number
of mothers entering hospital for their confinements is increasing, in consequence
more mothers are being discharged after 48 hours in hospital to the care of the
domiciliary midwife to be nursed at home.
There have been some changes in the staff of the service during the year.
Five midwives left the service for various reasons, and three newly qualified
persons were appointed as replacements.
During the year 29 pupil midwives from two hospitals in the Borough took
their Part II midwifery district training with Lambeth midwives. A teaching
hospital in the Borough accepted pupil midwives for training in September 1966.
Two of these pupils came to Lambeth for their district training, and two to the
Lambeth District Nursing Association to work with the midwives there.
Clinics are held in the Centres by the Council's medical officers and
midwives, and by general practitioner obstetricians, at which they examine their
patients with the midwives. The clinics are attended by patients booked for both
domiciliary and hospital confinements.
The twenty-four hour supervision of the service shared with the Boroughs of
Southwark and Wandsworth through the Emergency Control Service continues to
work satisfactorily.
Thanks are due to the Lambeth District Nursing Association and the South
London Hospital for their co-operation and help during the year.
MIDWIVES ACT 1951
The Council is the supervising authority for all midwives practising in the
Borough under the Midwives Act 1951.
During the year 258 midwives notified the Council of their intention to
practise in the Borough.