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Mothers' Discussion Groups
Discussion Groups in operation at the end of the year were as follows:
Vale Drive Clinic
Torrington Park Clinic
Brunswick Park (Osidge) Clinic
Mill Hill Clinic
Childs Hill Clinic
Midwifery
There was a reduction in the number of home deliveries conducted by domiciliary midwives,
491 deliveries taking place with medical aid being summoned in 21 cases. In addition 571 early
discharges from hospital were dealt with.
29 pupil midwives received their district training in the Borough, 6 living with midwives
and the others in the District Home at Gervase Road, Edgware. 3 midwives attended statutory
refresher courses.
2 new Infant Resuscitation Outfits were purchased and all the midwives were instructed
at University College Hospital in their use. The hospital staff were most helpful and made the
midwives very welcome. A model infant head was purchased to facilitate the teaching of
resuscitation.
During the year the Central Midwives Board issued a directive on the performing of
episiotomies by midwives. All the staff concerned went to Edgware General Hospital and
received instructions on the method suggested by the Board. Again every help was given by
the hospital.
During the year all Midwives were attached to General Practitioners and attended the
ante-natal and post-natal clinics of Doctors who wished to see their maternity patients apart
from the general surgery. Some midwives and pupil-midwives made a visit to Victoria Maternity
Hospital, Barnet, to see the new Premature Baby Unit.
The Matron of a Singapore hospital spent a week in the Borough studying the administration
of the domiciliary midwifery services as part of her administrative course at Edinburgh
University.
Home Nursing
In October it was de cided to fill two vacancies for home nurses by appointing nursing
auxiliaries and to commence a pilot scheme for six months, whereby the auxiliaries, under
the supervision of a senior home nurse, would relieve home nurses in one part of the
Borough of bathing duties so that the home nurses' skills could be utilized to the full.
Also in October one home nurse was attached full time to a group of general practitioners,
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