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31
advice on medical grounds) be extended to include all cases referred to the
local clinics of the Family Planning Association on social grounds either
by medical officers or by recognised social work agencies. The Family
Planning Association were also advised that the Council as landlords
would raise no objection to their giving of advice and treatment in any
case where they considered it appropriate, subject to the safeguards in
connection with parental consent suggested in Circular 15/67, with regard
to unmarried persons under the age of 21 years.
Arrangements whereby the Family Planning Association have the use
of certain clinic premises, without charge, to hold family planning sessions
continued as for 1966.
Sessions were held at the Caryl Thomas Clinic, Headstone Drive and
the Alexandra Avenue Clinic, South Harrow.
The present sessions are as follows
The domiciliary midwife working in liaison with the general practitioner
obstetrician provides ante-natal supervision of mothers expecting
to be confined at home. The ante-natal care includes instruction in the
use of analgesia apparatus—gas and air and trilene.
The present national decrease in the birth rate has been reflected in
the domiciliary field by an overall reduction of home confinements. This
overall reduction, coupled with a decrease in home confinement bookings
and an increase in planned early discharge from hospital indicates that
the pattern of domiciliary midwifery is continuing to change. This year
the total domiciliary bookings fell from 913 in 1966 to 798, and the
planned early discharge bookings rose from 389 to 447.
In order to cater for this change in pattern, the establishment of midwives
has been revised and the number employed in 1967 was twelve
full-time and one part-time, as opposed to fifteen full-time and two parttime
in 1966. This reduction in staff was achieved without redundancy
by not replacing four of the midwives who left this employment.
During the year two midwives were sponsored by the Borough to
undergo health visiting training, two married and moved out of the
district and one moved to Gloucester on promotion. The vacancies
required to be filled were advertised in the normal way and two full-time
midwives were appointed, again, no difficulty in finding suitable applicants
was experienced.
Caryl Thomas Clinic
Headstone Drive,
Wealdstone.
Alexandra Avenue Clinic
Alexandra Avenue,
South Harrow.
Tuesday morning.
Monday evening
Wednesday afternoon
Wednesday evening
Section 23 — Midwifery