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106
Having regard to the above figures of booking and the trend of midwifery it would appear
that the estimate of the Maternity Nursing to be done by the W.D.N.A. for 1938 could reasonably
be put at:—
As per booking (103 by 3) 309
Maternity Nursing previously done by Municipal Midwives or
Independent Practising Midwives who have surrendered their
certificates 50
359
In addition there will be some cases to be nursed by the W.D.N.A. who now have handy women.
Having regard to these figures and comparing them with the work of the W.B.C. Midwives,
it is quite fair to say that the £1,615 covers all the work of the Association for nursing pregnant and
puerperal women including the nursing of complications of pregnancy and the puerperium.
I would, therefore, suggest that the foregoing proposition form the basis for discussion with the
W.D.N.A. and that the figure of £1,615 be fixed to cover all such nursing until March, 1939, and that
it be reviewed prior to the expiry of this period with the view of arriving at a new figure for the financial
year, 1939-40.
GEORGE F. BUCHAN,
Medical Officer of Health.
5th April, 1938.
APPENDIX I.
Municipal Hospital. Nursing Staff Re-organisation. 48-hour Week.
Memorandum by Medical Officer of Health.
The Council has provided £3,300 in its estimates for 1938-39 for the provision of a 48-hour
week for the nurses at the Municipal Hospital.
The Committee will remember that in connection with this subject certain alterations were
suggested, namely:—
(a) A bathroom for Matron to be provided by the conversion of an existing bedroom into a
bathroom.
(b) Sisters' Sitting Room to be provided by extending the present sitting room to include the
adjacent bedroom.
(c) Staff Nurses' Sitting Room to be provided by converting an existing double-bedded bedroom
into a sitting room.
(d) Senior Sister and Sister Tutor—A sitting room to be provided for this officer by converting
an existing bedroom into a sitting room.
(e) Cloakroom for nurses to be provided by building a suitable room in connection with the side
entrance to the home.
(f) Heating—The low temperature in the older part of the nurses' home in the winter time to
be overcome by electric radiators.
Nurses' Home.
I understand that it is the desire of the Committee that the nurses to be employed at the
Municipal Hospital shall live in. It will, therefore, be necessary to provide a new nurses' home.
It was estimated that it was likely that some 12 or so additional nurses would be required in connection
with the running of the Municipal Hospital as it now is. The new nurses' home, however, has to
be built to take the additional nurses required (12) and the nurses now living out (4), to provide for
displaced beds (6) and to allow some spare beds for illness and other emergencies (say, 6). This means
that a nurses' home to accommodate 28 nurses is required for present purposes.
Other Considerations.
Before finally determining the best method for giving effect to the 48-hour week, I think it
is necessary that the Committee should have before them all the aspects of the Hospital problem.