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In the Ministry of Health Circular 1569, addressed to local
supervising authorities under the Midwives Act, it was stated that
the Minister was advised that for the purpose of their calculation
local authorities might assume that in populous districts each
midwife should usually be capable of attendance on 70 cases as
a midwife and 30 cases as a maternity nurse during the year.
Even before the scheme was put into operation in the country it
was believed that this figure should not exceed 80. Actually in
this area, more particularly because of the attendance of the
midwives at the ante-natal clinics, the average figure should
probably not exceed 70. Even this will not allow for prolonged
absence of any of the staff for illness, nor for the absence of at
least two members of the staff each year at post graduate
instruction.
Surrender of Certificates.
In the financial year 1937-38 the sum of £398 was paid to one
midwife carrying on a domiciliary practice; £330 to one who ran
a nursing home, and £35 was paid to neighbouring authorities who
were compensating midwives who carried on a limited practice in
this district. In the year 1938-39 sums of £836 and £677 were
paid to two midwives who, for a few months, were on the Council s
staff, and £24 was paid to other authorities.