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There is a growing tendency among doctors to give up the practice
of midwifery. Perhaps this may be partly due to the exigencies of panel
and private practice and the fact that the remuneration offered is not
always proportionate to the time and trouble expended. An aspect
of the situation which should be considered is that some cases requiring
skilled medical aid have already become difficult before such aid is
summoned. In many, difficulties might be avoided if medical skill were
at hand from the very beginning.
During the quinquennium considerable progress has been made in the
provision of maternity beds at the general hospitals. Reference to the
annual report of 1920 reveals the fact that no beds were then available
for ordinary maternity cases, although specially difficult cases were
admitted for operative treatment. The Council at that time considered
that a Lying-in Home was urgently required, and contemplated establishing
an institution in conjunction with the Women's Section of the
Comrades of the Great War. They were deterred from embarking on this
scheme by reason of the very considerable annual expenditure which was
proposed. The need, however, has been met owing to the initiative of
the voluntary hospitals and the increased accommodation which has
been provided at St. Stephen's Hospital; 15 beds were opened at Charing
Cross Hospital in 1924, followed by 11 at St. George's Hospital, and when
Westminster Hospital was partly reconstructed and enlarged in the same
year 4 beds were set aside for maternity cases. It is important that the
public should be made aware of the maternity department at St. Stephen's
Hospital. A ward of 28 beds is devoted to maternity. The excellence of
the work which is performed may be judged from the fact that this
department is recognised as a training school for midwives by the Central
Midwives Board. Fully qualified and experienced midwives are in