View report page

143
Report of Joint Council of Midwifery (1935).
In January, 1934, the Joint Council of Midwifery (composed
of representatives of local authorities, hospitals, medical, nursing
and obstetrical organisations) was appointed to consider means by
which the services rendered by midwives could be improved.
The investigation showed that, of all agencies concerned in
rendering motherhood safer, none was more important than the
work of the midwife, for she attends about 60 per cent. of all confinements.
The Committee summarised its recommendations as follows:—
1. That this Committee concurs with the views expressed
in the reports that, although adequate hospital accommodation
for ante-natal cases and abnormal confinements is essential,
normal confinements can be satisfactorily, safely, and preferably
conducted in the patient's own home, except where
this is unsuitable.
2. That the nursing of every maternity case should be
conducted by a qualified midwife, and unqualified persons
should not be permitted to nurse maternity cases for gain.
It should be the duty of the local authority to provide that
midwives are available to act as maternity nurses in the case
of any patient who has engaged a doctor for her confinement,
but is unable, in addition, to afford the services of a trained
nursing attendant.
3. That a salaried midwives' service should be established
under the appropriate local authority in all areas not already
served by salaried midwives. It is not intended to interfere
with the continuance in practice of independent midwives.
4. That it should be the duty of every appropriate local
authority to provide, or secure the provision of, an adequate
domiciliary service of midwives in its area, and for this
purpose: (a) to employ the requisite number of whole-time
midwives at adequate salaries; and/or (b) to aid approved
voluntary organisations (including provident societies) that
employ salaried midwives for service in its area.