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Midwives continue to work in groups of four and have a duty rota
system which operates to the mutual advantage of patients and midwifery
staff.
Night calls are passed to the appropriate midwife by the switchboard
staff of Harrow Hospital, whose assistance helps the service to operate just
as efficiently during the night.
Training
The Borough Council continues to assist with the training of pupil
midwives and accepts pupils from Edgware General Hospital and Bushey
Maternity Hospital for their three months district training in preparation
for part II of the examination of the Central Midwives Board.
Each pupil works with a midwife who is an approved teacher and who
supervises her domiciliary training. A total of 26 pupils received practical
instruction on the district and as a stimulus to interest, had various
lectures together with visits to the Colne Valley Water Works, a dairy
farm, an ambulance depot and the County Court.
Post Certificate Training
Two midwives attended refresher courses as required by the Central
Midwives Board and all the staff have attended lectures at Edgware
General Hospital.
Screening for Phenylketonuria
From the 1st October, 1969 the phenistix method of testing for
phenylketonuria was replaced by the more reliable Guthrie blood test,
which estimates the level of phenylalanine in the blood. This test is carried
out between the sixth and fourteenth day after birth. Hospital authorities
are responsible for collecting blood from infants born in hospital and not
discharged on or before the sixth day. Domiciliary midwives collect blood
from infants born in hospital and discharged on or before the sixth day and
also from those born at home.
Notification of intention to practice
Eighteen midwives notified their intention to practice within the
Borough as is required under the rules of the Central Midwives Board.