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41
Domiciliary Midwifery
Despite the rise in the birth rate the number of home confinements
during the year under review was less than in 1962.
This was due to a deliberate emphasis on careful selection for
admission to hospital. The risk to women who have borne four or
more children is considerable, and all recommendations about
safer midwifery stress the need for these mothers to be confined
in hospital. For obvious reasons they are often most reluctant
to leave home, but they can usually be persuaded to enter
hospital for the delivery of the child, on the understanding
that early discharge for subsequent home care will be arranged.
That for the second year runnung there was not a single death in
childbirth in Croydon indicates the value of this policy. It did
result in 1,134 mothers booked for hospital confinement being
referred for subsequent domiciliary care, a rise of almost 50%
on the figure for 1962. The recruitment of midwives to fill
vacancies remained difficult, but it was nevertheless possible
to maintain the permitted establishment.
For detailed figures see Appendices, pages 115 - 118
Midwives Acts, 1902-51
The number of midwives who notified their intention to practice
as midwives within the Borough (including those in hospitals)
and who were practising at the end of the year was 88.
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.
Child Welfare Centres
There was a fall in the number of attendances associated
with the very bad weather at the beginning of the year. Toddler
clinics and Health Education facilities were steadily augmented
during the year.
The opening of new Clinic premises at Waddon allowed an
immediate improvement to the services available in the area. The
replacement of an unsatisfactory hall by an up to date clinic
has resulted in a new interest in all aspects of our work.
for other detailed figures see Appendix, page 121.