View report page

Pupil Midwife Training
The bi-annual inspection of the midwifery training programme by the Central
Midwives Board took place in January and this was considered entirely satisfactory.
With the anticipated decline in domiciliary confinements, a course of community
care and social services was designed and submitted for consideration and subsequently
approved.
It is now acceptable for each pupil midwife to deliver six instead of ten patients
in their own homes. During the year 53 pupil midwives completed the period of
district experience and a further 12 were in training at the end of the year. Fifteen
midwives are approved by the Central Midwives Board as teachers.
Staff Training
The Central Midwives Board have extended the practice of the domiciliary midwife
to include a procedure of infiltration of the perineum prior to an episiotomy. It was
necessary to give some in-service training on the subject and a course was arranged
with the Maternity department at Lewisham Hospital. Each midwife spent 3 days in
hospital to acquire practical experience and a lecture-demonstration was given by
Mr. A. L. Gunn, f.r.c.s., f.r.c.o.g.
Closer supervision of the rhesus negative patients and a high incidence of anaemia
have resulted in more frequent blood examinations.
To facilitate the acquiring of these specimens, approval was obtained for the
midwives to be instructed in venu puncture.
In co-operation with the Pathological Laboratory at Lewisham Hospital each
midwife spent half a day in the laboratory taking blood specimens under supervision.
The incubation of babies who fail to breath satisfactorily at birth has been added
to the midwives practice. A lecture was given on the subject and a demonstration of
the technique, but practical experience would be essential to acquire any degree of
skill and this is to be arranged.
Statutory Refresher Courses
During the year 2 midwives attended refresher courses as required by the Central
Midwives Board.
Maternal Deaths
Under the procedure laid down by the Ministry of Health for the confidential enquiry
into maternal deaths, three maternal deaths were investigated.
19