London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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London County Council 1950

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]

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61
midwife-teachers employed by the Council. Some hospitals and district nursing
associations which were part II training schools also gave pupil midwives district
experience with their own district midwives.
Gas and air
analgesia
The following table sets out the numbers receiving analgesia throughout the year
and the percentage which they represent of all confinements attended. In addition
there were some mothers whom the midwives attended as maternity nurses under the
direction of doctors who themselves administered anaesthesia or analgesia and in
respect of which no figures are available.
Confinements attended by 1950 1949
London County Council midwives 5,027(68%) 5,479(64%)
Hospital district midwives 2,783 (69%) 3,033 (65%)
District nursing association midwives 1,400(57%) 1,571(55%)
There are still mothers who decline analgesia. Some are not considered medically
suitable to receive it and in other cases the midwife is not summoned early enough.
Developments
in 1950
The chief development during this year was the extension to midwives of permission
to administer pethidine on their own responsibility. The Ministry of Health
have also initiated an enquiry into the relationship of virus infections to congenital
defects in which the domiciliary midwifery service is participating.
Premature
airth
Details of the premature babies born at home will be found on page 49.
Change in
law relating
to midwives
Midwives Acts, 1902-1950
During the year the Midwives (Amendment) Act, 1950, became law. The main
effects of this Act concerning the work of local supervising authorities are :—
(1) Administrative changes are made in the procedure for notifying the
Central Midwives Board of the names of midwives who have notified intention
to practise
(2) Local supervising authorities are empowered to provide residential
accommodation for pupil midwives
(3) Practising midwives are exempt from serving on a jury
(4) Provisions relating to a national uniform for midwives.
Notifications
of intention
to practise

The number of notifications of intention to practise compared with previous years was:—

194819491950
As midwives 1,2131,2521,275
As maternity nurses 289242241
An analysis of the notifications shows :—MidwivesMaternity nurses
Practising in hospitals898
Practising in nursing homes2367
London County Council domiciliary145
District nursing associations107
Hospital districts91
Nursing co-operations153
Independent1121
1,275241

It should be borne in mind that notification to practise as a midwife includes
practice as a maternity nurse.
The Council, as local supervising authority under the Midwives Acts, continued
to inspect midwives and maternity nurses in accordance with the rules of the Central
Midwives Board.