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DAY NURSERY (on 31.12.38).
cd Miss W. J. Vigar, Matron.
/ Miss E. A. WeLLer, Staff Nurse.
/ Miss J. M. Coryn, Assistant Nurse.
/ Miss M. E. Noel, Assistant Nurse.
Probationers, Miss C. Knight, Miss M. Moore, Miss B. Howell,
c State Registered Nurse.
d State Registered Midwife.
/ Certificate of Day Nursery Training.
I have pleasure in submitting my fourth Annual Report on matters appertaining
to Maternity and Child Welfare in Edmonton.
I am pleased to be able to report that further progress has been made
during the vear 1938, and not only have we encompassed a greater number
of mothers and children but the quality and standard of the work done has
become more effective. The mothers are now more eager to come to the
Clinics regularlv, in the first instance because the Clinics are more convenient,
and, secondly, they do not have to wait so long for their requirements.
During the year 1938 the Weir Hall Clinic was opened by the Chairman,
Coun. C. Lacev, and he stated then that it was a much needed institution
in that area, and evidence has since proved that his words were correct,
and I would venture to say that in the future the building will be even more
utilised by the mothers of this area.
The Midwifery Service, which was commenced towards the end of 1937,
has progressed favourably in the year 1938—the work has practically doubled
itself, and further midwives are to be employed in order to cope with the
increased work. I am happy to be able to say that from the onset the midwives
strove to make the Service a success, and I have every confidence that
the Officers appointed will ensure an excellent standard of work for the
mothers of Edmonton.
The Report of the Joint Council of Midwifery suggests that each wholetime
midwife might reasonably be expected to attend 80 cases per annum,
while the Departmental Committee on Midwives suggested a figure of 100
per year, but 1 am of the opinion that these figures are too high, especiallywhen
one takes into account the wider scope of the Service, the more frequent
ante-natal care necessary, off duty time and official holidays, the figure of
80 cases per annum must be a maximum. This calculation, however, makes
no allowance for suspension of midwives to prevent the spread of infection,
nor does it allow for a very desirable feature in midwifery work, namely,
having a midwife to attend one case only at a time. On the whole, however,
1 am pleased with the uniformity of the Service, and having regard to the
fact that it is an entirely new feature of the Maternity Service, it has proved
itself of great value, and has given quite a considerable amount of satisfaction
to the General Public.
1 should like to tender my very best thanks to the midwives employed
for the individual efforts they have made to bring success to the scheme. I
have no doubt that in the future a greater perfection will be brought to bear
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