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the basis of 70 midwifery cases and 30 maternity cases per midwife,
a full complement of 15 midwives would be required for the
Borough. On July 1st the service opened with 6 midwives and a
Superintendent Midwife. From the beginning the service has
proved popular with mothers, and at the end of the year the bookings
had become sufficient to justify the appointment of additional
midwives.
The Committee also assist necessitous patients in the payment
of the midwife's fee. 28 applications were made for assistance
by midwives on behalf of the patients, and a total sum of
£51 12s. was allowed. This concession has ceased since the
inception of the Municipal Midwives Scheme.
Midwives are also compensated if they lose a case through
admission to a hospital or maternity home on the advice of a
doctor. The sum of £45 17s. was paid out during the year.
Confinements Attended by Midwives.
Cases attended by midwives alone 2,030—i.e., 55.6% of
Cases attended by midwives when a total births
doctor was also engaged 577
Cases attended by midwives when a
doctor was also summoned 622
Total 3,229—i.e., 88.5% of
total births
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 : —
For Complications during Pregnancy :
Albuminuria 29 Other causes 27
Abortion 3 — 59
For Complications during Labour :
Breech 8 Hand 1
Face 4 Occipito-Posterior 1
Extended Breech 6 Prolapsed Cord 2
Head 3 Undiagnosed 12
— 37
Obstructed Labour 11 11
Delayed Labour—
Uterine Inertia . 12 Prolonged 25
Delaved 16
53