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9
As is already known, in July, the Report of the Midwives
Salaries Committee—one of the Committees appointed, under the
(hairmanship of Lord Rushcliffe—was published (Cmd. 6460), and
is popularly referred to as the "Midwives' Charter". This gives to
Midwives a salary more in keeping with their status, and sets out
various other conditions of service, concerned with hours of duty,
holiday periods, etc., which will go a long way towards improving
the lot of Midwives, and encouraging a greater number of nurses
with the midwifery certificate to remain in the midwifery service,
in addition to influencing young women to enter this profession.
Consideration was still being given to this Report by the Essex
County Council, which is the Local Supervising Authority, at the
end of the year.
At the beginning of November one of the Midwives, for
domestic reasons, was granted extended leave of absence, but we
were fortunate to obtain the services of a relief Midwife to act in
her place.
In addition to the Council Midwives, there are 2 Midwives in
independent practice in the District, and also 5 District Nurse Midwives.
Two Midwives, resident outside the Borough, undertook
cases in the District during the year.
(iv) Midwives Act, 1936.
The following gives a summary of the cases attended by the
Council Midwives, as Midwives, and as Maternity Nurses during
1943:—
As Midwives 276
As Maternity Nurses 88
(v) Hospitals: Public and Voluntary.
(a) Infectious Diseases.
(b) Maternity.
(c) Children.
(d) Other Cases.
There is nothing new to report in either of these sections.
2.—MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE.
(i) Ante-natal Clinics.
Sessions for this purpose continued as before, as also the Consultative
Ante-natal Clinic at Oldchurch County Hospital.