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36
MIDWIFERY SERVICE
The national policy towards a 100 per cent hospital
confinement rate is rapidly being accomplished in Kingston. There
were only 48 domiciliary confinements. 543 patients were discharged
home early after hospital delivery, including 40 patients who were
admitted to the Domino Unit at Kingston Hospital where deliveries
are undertaken by the patients general practitioners and domiciliary
midwives. It has been disappointing that this unit has not been
fully used but many patients were considered obstetrically unsuitable
for this scheme. The co-operation of the general practitioners is
necessary to make this scheme fully operational.
District midwives attended 301 ante-natal clinic sessions
in doctors' surgeries, including the health centre at Gosbury Hill.
245 mothers made 2,849 attendances at sessions. 129 sessions were
held by the midwives, in nurses homes, including booking sessions.
146 sessions were attended at Kingston Hospital to see patients
being discharged early.
Epidural anaesthesia is now recognised as normal midwifery
practice,and mothers in labour are given every facility to assist
in a painless labour. The domiciliary midwives are being instructed
by the staff at Kingston Hospital so they can become competent in
this procedure and also in an effort to reduce the incidence of
stillbirth and neonatal death.
The domiciliary midwives have accepted their changed role
and have also recognised the importance of new practices and improved
ante-natal care and the contribution they can make in caring for the
early discharge patients who often require considerable reassurance
and support when they are discharged home from hospital shortly
after delivery.
The Council's midwives summoned medical aid in 76 cases,
of which 9 were domiciliary and 67 early discharges from hospital.
Total Visits by Midwives
Post-natal 7,331
Home Assessments for
early discharge 513
Ante-natal visits 652
Ante-natal visits
in labour 178