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30
Maternal
deaths
Among those booked with the service or attended in emergency by midwives
working under the scheme, there were nine deaths due to pregnancy and confinement
and two deaths associated with pregnancy and confinement. Five of the patients
were booked by the Council's midwives, four by midwives of voluntary organisations
and two were emergency cases. Each case was investigated fully.
Non-medical
supervisors
During the year two positions of non-medical supervisor of midwives were
authorised in place of two assistant medical officers and the new positions were
filled in January, 1939.
Refresher
courses
Section 7 (i) of the Midwives Act, 1936, provides that the Central Midwives
Board shall have power to frame rules requiring midwives to attend a course of
instruction, and clause (ii) of Section 7 of the Act directs that every supervising
authority shall provide or arrange for the provision of such courses of instruction for
midwives practising in its area. The rules of the Board have been formulated and
prescribe a four weeks' residential course, normally every seven years. During
the year the Council made arrangements with the St. John's Post-Certificate School
for the reservation of 30 places during the year 1939 for practising midwives working
in London.
Compensation
Under the Midwives Act, 1936, practising midwives were given the option of
relinquishing their practice and, subject to certain conditions, became entitled to
receive compensation. This provision remained in force until 30th July, 1939.
During the year compensation was authorised to 30 midwives who had voluntarily
surrendered their certificate of enrolment by the Central Midwives Board and during
the same period one was called upon to cease practising as she was deemed to be
incapable of performing her duties efficiently by reason of age. Compensation
amounting to £8,959 13s. 8d. was authorised for payment to the 31 midwives concerned.
One case was referred to the Minister of Health for decision.
Number of
confinements
The following statement shows the number of confinements which occurred
in London in 1938, classified under the various forms of attendance. The figures
have been arrived at as a result of an examination of statistics furnished from
various sources. The total number of confinements in London in 1938 was 66,318.
Institutional confinements
Voluntary hospitals *18,707
Borough maternity homes 2,556
L.C.C. hospitals 21,037
Private nursing homes 3,261
Total ... 45,561
Domiciliary confinements
L.C.C. midwives 3,373
Borough midwives 340
Voluntary hospitals and organisations 7,499
Independent midwives *3,892
Private doctors 5,653
Total 20,757
* Estimated.
The number of births used by the Registrar-General in calculating the birthrate
of London was 54,495. The substantial difference between this figure and the
66,318 notified births indicates that a large number of women whose normal place
of residence is outside London come to London for their confinement.
Midwives
Certified midwives to the number ot 1,050 gave notice of intention to practise
within the county during the year, compared with 1,045 in 1937.
These 1,050 midwives fall into the following categories:—
L.C.C. domiciliary midwives 55
In private practice 139
Out-county 50
Nursing homes 95
Municipal (Borough Council) 10