Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Leyton]
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persons in any area by order of the Minister as soon as he is satisfied
that the new service in the area is adequate ; and the periodical
attendance at post-certificate courses of all practising midwives.
The opportunity has also been taken to make a number of
amendments of the existing law relating to midwives.
The Act requires that the proposals of local supervising
authorities be submitted to the Minister of Health not later than
the 30th January, and be brought into operation not later than
30th July, 1937.
Estimate of Staff Requirements.
The first step in the formulation of proposals is for each local
supervising authority to estimate by reference to existing statistics
the number of domiciliary confinements likely to be attended in
their area each year by midwives and by medical practitioners.
The following figures give the required statistical information relative to the Borough of Leyton during the period covered by the last five complete years. (By way of explanation a midwife acts as a "midwife" when she has been engaged to deliver a woman, and as a "maternity nurse" when she is employed to assist a medical practitioner who has been so engaged).
Year. | 1931 | 1932 | 1933 | 1934 | 1935 | Average. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Birth Rate | 14.09 | 13.10 | 11.91 | 11.78 | 12.26 | 12.63 |
2. Number of Registered Births— | ||||||
(a) In Institutions | 546 | 585 | 687 | 630 | 716 | 633 |
(b) At Home | 1,266 | 1,081 | 812 | 824 | 777 | 952 |
Total | 1,812 | 1,666 | 1,499 | 1,454 | 1,493 | 1,585 |
3. Number of Domiciliary Confinements attended : (a) By midwives alone | 663 | 623 | 494 | 487 | 472 | 548 |
(b) By doctors with mid-wives acting as maternity nurses | 188 | 181 | 147 | 197 | 163 | 175 |
(c) By doctors alone | 415 | 277 | 171 | 140 | 142 | 229 |
Total | 1,266 | 1,081 | 812 | 824 | 777 | 952 |
It is necessary to include in our assessment the number of
domiciliary confinements attended by midwives acting as maternity
nurses (i.e., item 3 (b)).