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27
Inspection of Midwives.
The inspection of the midwives in the Borough is the duty
of the Middlesex County Council. Although the County Council
has possessed powers under the Midwives Act, 1902, to delegate
its duties in this respect to the Local Authorities within its area,
it has jealously kept this inspectorial duty in its own hands not
trusting these local authorities, however efficient in administration
they may have shown themselves. The Midwives Bill before
Parliament contains a clause which has for its object the abolition
of the power of the County Council to delegate its duties under
the previous Midwives Act. As this clause is likely to become
law it now lemains for us to accept the inevitable and to try and
deal with the disadvantage in the best way possible. It seems
however, an extra-ordinary thing that the Ealing Council should
take measures for dealing with maternity and child welfare, yet
the control of midwives, who might in any scheme become potent
factors for good, is within the jurisdiction of another body, to
wit the County Council, who have no intimate knowledge of the
conditions in or the needs of the district. The Board in their
circular state that it is important that the supervising authority
should in all cases secure co-operation between the midwives
and the local organisation for maternity and child welfare work.
What I would suggest to bring about this co-operation is
that lectures should be given by the Maternity and Child Welfare
staff to the midwives in the Borough, the County Council being
asked to assist the Borough Council in bringing them to the notice
of the midwives, and in advising their attendance and co-operation.
The lectures I suggest should include ante-natal hygiene,
post-natal hygiene, and the feeding and care of infants.
Provision of Midwifery.
In a previous report I have shown that the great majority
of maternity cases are attended by doctors. The midwives in
the Borough, most of whom are trained, appear to be sufficient
in number to meet the needs of the district.
The Council has already made provision by which a midwife
can be provided in cases where the people are unable through
impoverished circumstances to engage one.