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20
Uncertificated Women.—During the year the Town Council
instituted proceedings against a woman who, not being a certified
midwife, was alleged to have attended upon a woman at her confinement
contrary to the provisions of the Midwives and Maternity
Homes Act, 1902 to 1926. The case was dismissed, the
Court being of the opinion that the case was one in which the
attention was given in consequence of sudden and urgent necessity.
In another case in which a woman, not being certified as a
midwife, had attended upon a woman in childbirth otherwise than
under the direct and personal supervision of a duly qualified
medical practitioner, the Town Council gave her a serious warning
as to her conduct in the future.
Number of Births attended by Midwives.—From the usual
returns furnished by the midwives at the end of the year it was
found that 1,009 births in Ealing were attended by certified
midwives acting in the capacity of midwife, and that in 369 cases
attended by doctors, midwives acted as maternity nurses. The
number of births attended by midwives acting in the capacity of
midwife is equal to 52.7 per cent. of all births notified, while certified
midwives acted as maternity nurses in a further 19.3 per cent. of
the cases.
Notifications.—The notifications received from midwives,
in accordance with the Rules of the Central Midwives Board, were
as follows:-
Notifications of :
Sending for medical assistance-
On account of a complication of pregnancy 24
On account of a complication during
labour 74
On account of a complication during the
puerperium 9
On account of the health of the child 28
* 135
Still-birth 8
Laying Out of a Dead Body 3
Artificial Feeding of Infant 5
Liability of Midwife to be a source of Infection 5
Total 156