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22
During the period October/December it was necessary
temporarily to suspend from practice one midwife because
of liability to spread infection. It was not necessary to
pay compensation for this suspension.
One finds that being the Authority for the supervision
of midwives that the work can be closely co-operated with
the Child Welfare Service—a co-operation long overdue.
It is of course too short a period to show the result of this
co-operation, but the knowledge received of abnormal Natal
conditions is of immense value in the after care of the
mother and child.
Payment of Doctors called by Midwives, Section 14, Midwives
Act, 1918.
Out of the eight occasions when midwives called in the
assistance of doctors, Seven applications for payment of fees
were received. One fee lapsed because of failure to submit
a claim within the prescribed period of two months. On
receipt of a claim the fee is paid by the Corporation, and
recovered by them from the patient. Where circumstances
warrant it, the repayment of the claim is waived, or partial
repayment of the fee is accepted. During October/December,
eight claims were dealt with, the full amounts being
recovered from the patients.
Post-Certificate Education.
The importance of midwives being cognisant of every
new development in their professional work is obvious, but
unforhinately, owing to the poor financial return for the
work performed, many of them are unable to provide for
post-certificate training. Every facility must therefore be
given by the Local Supervising Authority, either to provide
the education or to assist midwives in attending
lectures elsewhere. During October, 19-30, six midwives
were personally assisted to attend the excellent course of
lectures held at Maidstone.
Maternity Hospital and Maternity Homes.
The Maternity Hospital at the present time provides
for 12 beds, and necessitous cases requiring hospital care
are accepted from us by this hospital under existing
arrangements.
It is proposed to extend this hospital on the present
limited site by a further three beds; an extension greatly