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Supervision of the midwives practising on the district, including regular
inspections by the Medical Supervisor of Midwives, was carried out as in
previous years, and general supervision, in accordance with the Rules of
the Central Midwives Board, was exercised over the midwives practising
at the Ilford Maternity Hospital.
Suspension from Practice.—No Midwives were suspended from practice
during the year.
Medical Aid.—Medical aid was sought in 1 instance where the infant
was found to have inflamed or discharging eyes. The condition of the
eyes cleared satisfactorily.
Domiciliary Midwifery Servicc.—At the end of the year there were
9 Domiciliary Midwives employed by the County Council whole-time and
2 part-time, in addition to the Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent.
During the year 562 cases were attended. In 520 cases the midwives
were engaged to attend as midwives and in 42 cases as maternity nurses.
The patients resided in the following wards:—
Barkingside 46; North Hainault 47; Cranbrook 62; Park 53; Seven
Kings 34; South Hainault 62; Loxford 33; Clementswood 31;
Goodmayes 18; Fairlop 73; Clayhali 60; Mayfield 43.
A Doctor was called in to 113 of the 520 cases in which a midwife
had been engaged.
Of the infants born there were 8 stillbirths. In 2 of these cases the
midwife was engaged as a maternity nurse only.
There were 3 deaths of infants during the first year of life where the
birth had been attended by a Domiciliary Midwife. 2 of these occurring
during the first two weeks of life.
Notices were received from the Domiciliary Midwives stating that
artificial feeding had been substituted in respect of 32 infants attended
by them during 1953.
During 1953 Ante-Natal Clinics conducted by the Domiciliary Midwives
were held weekly at Valentines Mansion and fortnightly at Mayes-brook cliic and Manford Way Clinic.

Number of sessions 48 24 27
Average attendance at each
session 25 19 17
In addition 2,582 home ante-natal visits were made during the year.
In order to make possible a more active collaboration between the
general practitioners in the area and the midwives a scheme was devised,
commencing on the 1st March. 1953. to provide for the doctor and the