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8
Day Nurseries
The policy of the Corporation has been to restrict the use of
nurseries to mothers who are obliged to work because their
earnings are the sole support of the family, or there are other
exceptional home conditions. The numbers qualifying for admission
have steadily diminished and nursery capacity has been
reduced in step with the demand. 5 nurseries remained at the
close of 1952.
Midwifery
6.—The Corporation administers directly the domiciliary
midwives service. A Superintendent Midwife acts as non-medical
supervisor for this staff. Midwives employed in Maternity homes
are supervised by one of the whole-time Assistant Medical Officers
of Health who combines these visits with inspections of the
Homes under the Public Health Act, 1936. Approximately twothirds
of the Midwives own their own motor-cars or autocycles
and are paid travelling allowances. The remainder use bicycles,
but a car is maintained by the Ambulance Service and is available
for these Midwives when required. Accommodation has been
provided for one Midwife who lives on an isolated housing estate.
All Midwives are competent to administer and have available
gas/air analgesia and pethidine. For those without motor-cars
gas/air equipment is transported by the Ambulance Service.
Midwives attend the Ante-natal sessions with the mothers for
whom they are booked. If this care is being given by the family
doctor, Midwives are required to visit independently. A form for
interchange of information was drawn up by the Local Medical
Committee and issued by the Executive Council. (It is now very
little used, being replaced by direct contact between Midwife and
Doctor). Midwives attend the surgeries of 10 family doctors who
hold regular ante-natal sessions. Home visiting of mothers not
qualifying for priority admission to hospital on medical grounds
is carried out by the domiciliary midwives, who advise whether
a home confinement is practicable. 3 or 4 Midwives each year
are required to attend a two weeks' refresher course in London
arranged by one of the professional organisations, so that each
Midwife attends at intervals of 5 years. 10 Midwives have Part II
C.M.B. pupils for three months' district training, the course
being held in conjuction with St. Mary's Maternity Hospital
Part II training school. Part I Pupil Midwives attend the Antenatal
clinic from Mayday Hospital. Post-natal clinics are held
in the same premises as the Ante-natal clinics. Midwives followup
their mothers who fail to attend. The Midwifery Service has
recovered from the initial disturbance following the introduction
of the National Health Service Act and is working smoothly with
the general practitioner obstetricians and the hospital service.