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34
vision than the health visitors were able to do. The opportunity
was taken to revise the rules with which the home helps must comply
and to compile a new official list of home helps who have proved
capable of undertaking the work. At the same time the Council
agreed to increase the rate of pay of home helps from £1 Is. Od.
per week to £1 5s. Od. per week. During the year home helps
were provided by the Council in 45 cases but it is anticipated
that there will be much greater demands on this service when the
new arrangements are in full operation.
Accouchement Sets.—For some years sterilised accouchement
sets have been provided for expectant mothers who are in necessitous
circumstances. Before the commencement of the new Service,
at a conference held with the midwives, information was sought
regarding the suitability of the sets provided. Various improvements
were suggested and as a result an improved outfit is now
available through the midwives. The outfit is contained in a
tin box, a little larger than a biscuit tin, and comprises one
accouchement sheet 30 ins. x 30 ins., 12 sanitary towels, 12 maternity
pads, one sheet waterproof paper, 1 lb. cotton wool and one packet
safety pins. Before leaving the manufacturers the outfits are
sterilised and are sealed with adhesive tape.
The cost of the outfit is 5s. 4d. and during the year 82 were
supplied free to necessitous cases and a further 93 were sold at
cost price.
Training of Pupil Midwives.—As has been previously stated
one of the midwives appointed to the staff is qualified to act as a
teacher of pupil midwives, this appointment having been made
with a view to her undertaking the district training of some of
the pupil midwives who receive their other training in the Perivale
Maternity Hospital. Under the present conditions of training
each pupil is required to devote four weeks to her district training.
One pupil was dealt with in June and later in the year, when the
midwife had become established in the district, arrangements
were made for her to undertake continuously the training of one
pupil at a time.
The Central Midwives Board has now amended the Rules
regarding the training of pupil midwives and has divided the
training into two parts. As the Perivale Maternity Hospital has