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26
Cases attended by independent midwives.
At the end of the year there were five midwives resident in
the district and two in neighbouring areas who were continuing in
independent practice, compared with seven and eight respectively
at the beginning of the year. In addition, midwives from three
nursing homes undertake occasional cases in the patients' homes.
Compensation for the surrender of certificates may be claimed
under the Midwives Act, 1936, up to the 30th July, 1939, and
there is a possibility that the number of independent midwives may
be still further reduced by this date.
Prohibition of unqualified persons acting as Maternity Nurses.
An Order was made by the Minister of Health under Section
6 (2) of the Midwives Act, 1936, applying the provisions of that
section to the Borough from the 1st June, 1938. The effect of
this Order is that no untrained woman may attend a woman in
childbirth. Certain women who are not fully trained nurses or
midwives are permitted to continue their work if they hold a
certificate of training issued by an institution approved by the
Minister of Health, and if they give notice in writing to the Council
of their intention to practice in the area. Notice of intention to
practice has been received from eight persons who possess approved
certificates of training.
Post-certificate training.
Section 7 of the Midwives Act, 1936, provides that every
midwife practising in the area shall attend from time to time an
approved course of post-certificate training. During the year the
Central Midwives Board issued Rules which require every practising
midwife to attend once in every seven years an approved course
of training extending over a period of not less than four consecutive
weeks. The course of instruction must be residential. The Rules
come into force on the 1st January, 1939, although the Board have
requested that the arrangements for the provision of training for
the many midwives who have held their certificates for more than
seven years should be spread over the first few years to permit
suitable arrangements being made by the training institutions.
The Council have made arrangements for midwives practising in
Ealing to receive their training at the St. John's Post-certificate
Schools, London, E.14,