View report page

MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH
DOMICILIARY MIDWIFERY
Valerie J. Buckingham, S.R.N., R.F.N., S.C.M., M.T.D., N.D.N.Cert.
(Assistant Chief Nursing Officer)
Domiciliary Midwifery Service
The work of the Domiciliary Midwives continued to change in character during the
year as the preference for hospital delivery increased and the planned early discharge
scheme absorbed many of the patients who would have been confined at home.
There was a fall in the birth rate of 6.8% (4,456 in 1970—4,151 in 1971) and this
may partly be attributed to the increase in family planning facilities.
Domiciliary Confinements
These totalled 260, a decline of 33.6% from the previous year. The percentage
of domiciliary confinements to total births fell to 6.2% thus giving a hospital
confinement rate of 93.8%.
A General Practitioner Obstetrician was booked for 99.2% of the patients confined
at home, but the doctor was present at only 10.7% of the deliveries. To
maintain the high degree of skill of the domiciliary midwife the Domiciliary Liaison
Scheme with Lewisham Hospital has continued; during the year 102 deliveries were
conducted in hospital by the domiciliary midwives. The scheme has increased in
popularity with the staff as it offers continuity in the care of patients and the full
complement of staff are willingly participating in the scheme. An average of 25
cases are booked each month, but some cases become full hospital cases for various
reasons such as the necessity for induction of labour.
Owing to adverse factors listed below bookings for domiciliary confinements
had to be changed for 41 patients.