London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London

Ealing 1968

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Ealing]

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8. MIDWIFERY
In accordance with Section 23 of the National Health Service Act, the Council provides a staff
of 20 midwives to undertake home confinements and to care for those mothers discharged early from
hospital. The arrangement whereby this work is undertaken by the Council's own midwives in
Ealing and South all, and by Queen Charlotte's Hospital midwives in Acton, continued in 1968.
The Council is also the supervising authority under the Midwives Act, 1951, and as such is
responsible for the supervision of all midwives practising in the borough, including those working in
hospital.
11 of the Council's midwives are approved teachers and during the year 30 pupils from Perivale
Maternity Hospital and Hillingdon Hospital were trained. Those from the former hospital were
accommodated in the Council's Pupil Midwives' Hostel, which has continued to prove popular.

Table: The number of home and hospital confinements in the area of the London Borough of Ealing over the last few years is as follows: -

The number of home and hospital confinements in the area of the London Borough of Ealing over the last few years is as follows: -

YearDomiciliaryHospitalTotal
1964105147445795
196594247285670
196662650395665
196759951095708
196850049075407

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The increase in the proportion of hospital confinements is clearly shown, and is in conformity
with national trends.
The Council has an agreement with Perivale Maternity Hospital to provide nursing care and home
help service for mothers discharged from hospital after 48 hours.

Table: Before arrangements are made for a mother to be accepted on this scheme the health department has to be satisfied that the home conditions are suitable, and that there will be facilities for sufficient rest on return home. The growth of this service over the last few years is shown by the figures given below: -

Before arrangements are made for a mother to be accepted on this scheme the health department has to be satisfied that the home conditions are suitable, and that there will be facilities for sufficient rest on return home. The growth of this service over the last few years is shown by the figures given below: -

19641965196619671968
306511718674679