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40
MIDWIFERY SERVICE
Mothers confined at home were cared for by 8 full-time
midwives, 2 other full-time staff who devoted part of their time to
home nursing, and 4 part-time maternity nurses. These staff were
supervised by a non-medical supervisor and deputy, both of whom
combined their posts with supervisory posts in the home nursing service.
These domiciliary midwives attended the births of 316 babies
born to Kingston residents, and cared for a further 441 mothers who
were discharged from hospitals within ten days after confinement.
They summoned medical aid in 49 cases.
During the year 1,784 births to Kingston residents took
place in institutions, so that the domiciliary midwives dealt with
15.0 per cent of all births occurring.
Training
The training of midwives includes a period of three months
with local authority midwives who have been approved as teachers.
There were 10 midwives who had been so approved in the borough's
service and during the year 24 pupil midwives received their three
months* training.
A new scheme for Part II midwifery training of student
midwives in conjunction with Kingston Hospital was commenced in March.
Because of the increased number of hospital beds in the
locality and also the falling birth rate it has become more difficult
for each student midwife to have ten domiciliary deliveries as
stipulated by the Central Midwives Board. Arrangements are in process
for a new scheme of training to be carried out. The student midwife
will have six domiciliary cases with four deliveries in hospital which
she must nurse at home. She will also have a programme of visits to
attend various clinics and centres which are linked with the local
authority services. Various lectures on this aspect of the work will
be given to the student. This scheme must be approved by the Central
Midwives Board.
The non-medical supervisor of midwives or her deputy attends
Kingston Hospital to talk to the students before they come to work on
the district. It has also been arranged that the deputy supervisor or
a senior midwife attend weekly at the ante-natal booking session at
Kingston Hospital. All patients who are having a planned early
discharge are seen by her and a closer integration is therefore being
established within the midwifery service.