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38
Appointment of married women.
The Minister of Health in his Circular draws special attention to the
fact that many authorities have a rule prohibiting the employment of married
women and trusts that when first selecting midwives for salaried posts,
the local authority will, where necessary, so revise this rule as to enable them
to have regard only to their efficiency as midwives, subject, of course, to
their ability to undertake whole-time employment. In view of this recommendation
by the Minister it is suggested that in respect of the first appointments
to the service married women at present in practice in the area be
considered, subject to their ability to undertake whole-time employment.
Payment of Allowances, provision of equipment, etc.
The Council should pay an allowance in respect of the provision and
maintenance of a cycle and to meet other travelling expenses incurred in the
ordinary course of duty. It is recommended that this allowance should
amount to £5 per annum.
To facilitate the summoning of the midwife by her patients cr by doctors,
the co-operation of all the Whole-time midwives, and the general administration
of the service, a telephone should be provided at the midwife's private residence
at the expense of the Council.
As each midwife will book her own cases directly it is necessary that
she should have accommodation at her private residence for the interviewing
of patients. An allowance, therefore, should be made in respect of the rent
of a room to be set aside for this purpose and it is recommended that this
allowance should amount to 5/- per week, or £13 per annum.
To provide an efficient service for all parts of the Borough it will be
necessary for the midwives to reside in convenient parts of the district
and the terms of appointment should provide for the midwives residing in
any part of the Borough indicated.
The Council should supply all uniform, equipment and dressings required
by the midwives and the laundry charges in respect of the uniform should
also be met. It is anticipated that suitable arrangements will be made for
the laundry work to be carried out at the Maternity Hospital.
The midwives appointed Will, according to the Act, have to devote
the Whole of their time to the service of the Council and will not be allowed
to engage in any other occupation. The nine midwives appointed will be
required to maintain an adequate day and night service for seven days a
week for the whole of the Borovgh. Every possible step wrill be taken,
however, to arrange their work on a reasonable basis. The suggested
arrangements for off-duty periods, together with other terms of appointment
of a character which are general to appointments made by the Council,
are included in the copy of the proposed ' Terms of Appointment of Midwife '
which is attached hereto as Appendix I.
The Act provides in Section 2, Sub-section (3), for the admission of
midwives employed by the local authority to the superannuation scheme and
authorises the addition of any period or periods (not exceeding in the aggregate
10 years) during Which she has practised as a midwife before being employed
by the local authority for the purpose of reckoning the amount of the pension
on retirement. There is only one midwife practising in the Borough likely
to be appointed as a whole-time midwife whose age will necessitate the
addition of years of service to bring her within the Council's Superannuation
Scheme.