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The number of confinements attended by midwives in 1931
was less than in 1930, when the cases attended by midwives alone
constituted 61% of the total.
The Rules of the Central Midwives Board lay down that the
Local Supervising Authority must be informed, within 36 hours,
by a midwife if she has summoned medical help during pregnancy,
in a confinement or within ten days afterwards. The following
table gives details of the reasons for sending for medical aid.
The Council assists in the payment of the midwife's fees for
attendance on a necessitous patient in her confinement. No
attempt is made in. such cases to recover from the patient. The
object of this is that even the poorest mother can engage the
services of a competent midwife, whilst the latter will have no cause
to hesitate to attend on the grounds that she will probably receive
no payment for her services. Midwives are also compensated if
they lose a case through its admission to a hospital or maternity
home on the advice of the Ante-natal Clinic. The sum of £24
was paid out during the year.