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35
Domiciliary Midwifery
It was a busy year for the Municipal Midwives, who delivered
63 more babies than in 1959. Early discharge from local hospitals
also continued as a means of relieving overcrowding in
Maternity Wards, and 2 part-time Maternity Nurses were employed
to meet this added duty. Despite the growing interest of General
Practitioners in obstetrics, of the mothers for whom doctors had
been booked for maternity medical care, 80% were delivered by
the domiciliary midwife on her own. 94% of mothers were given
an inhalation and analgesic during labour, the great majority receiving
gas/air. R>r detailed figures see appendices,pages 101-103.
midwives Acts, 1902-51
The number of Midwives who notified their intention to practise
as midwives or maternity nurses, within the Borough (including
those in hospitals) and who were practising at the end
of the year was 82. All held the certificate of the Central Midwives'
Board. The Medical Supervisor of Midwives visits midwives
in private practice and nursing homes, and the Superintendent
Municipal Midwife carries out these duties for the domiciliary
midwives.
Day Nursery
The single central Day Nursery provided more than sufficient
Places for applications in the priority group. At the end of
the year there were 35 children on the register, 14 under and 21
over 2 years of age. During the year the average daily attendance
of the under 2 year olds was 9, and of the over 2 year old - 21.
Child Welfare Centres
The number of children under 1 year who first attended in
1960 was some 15% greater than in 1959. Total attendances for
all ages under 5 years of 69,891 showed a fall of just under 3%
from last year. Health Education by group discussion was emphasized
at New Addington, where 17 special evening sessions for
mothers totalled 390 attendances. Topics included "Ante-Natal
Care", "Food Hygiene", "care of the Teeth", "Home Safety",
"Vaccination and Immunisation". 19 members of the group attended
a full First Aid Course and 18 qualified for a certificate. At
the Waddon Welfare Centre, the class to interest mothers without
domestic skills in making and mending children's clothes, had an
average attendance of 10 mothers per session. The tuition is
essentially simple and practical and aimed at those who are
quite unable to learn through their own initiative.