View report page

Domiciliary Midwifery
To meet the needs of mothers wishing to have a home confinement 8½ domiciliary
midwives were employed by the Council.
The midwives visit the expectant mothers to assess the suitability of the home for
domiciliary confinement or its suitability for the mother and her baby to return home
to the care of the midwife 48 hours after confinement in one of the local hospitals. The
number of domiciliary confinements during the year fell to 132 of which 2 were premature
births and 2 were stillborn. The number of 48 hour discharges was 622.
Five of the Council's midwives are approved teachers under the Central Midwives
Board second training scheme. During the year 26 pupils completed 3 months
district training. Student nurses from Guy's Hospital doing the obstetric training
course also made visits of observation to an ante-natal clinic and accompanied midwives
on home visits.
Maternal Deaths
Five maternal deaths due to, or associated with, pregnancy, childbirth or abortion
occurred in Southwark during 1971. Full reports on the circumstances relating to
these deaths were prepared and forwarded as required to the Department of Health
and Social Security.
District Nursing
The District Nursing Service is provided directly by the Council only on the
recommendation of the patient's general practitioner with whom the nurse works in
close co-operation. (See p. Attachment of Staff to G.P.'s). Nursing auxiliaries
21