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'21
authority administering a Maternity and Child Welfare Scheme
should also exercise control over the Midwives practising in its area;
thus only can the old-fashioned registered midwife receive adequate
supervision.
During the year it was necessary to report to the Supervising
Authority five Midwives for breaches of the rules of the Central
Midwives Board as follows:—Failure to report inflamed and
unhealed navels, inflammation of eyes and offensive lochia.
These troubles were discovered by Health Visitors subsequent
to the Midwife leaving the case, and in several instances stout
denial was made by the midwife that the condition existed during
the time she was in attendance. In this district it is the piactice
of the Health Visitors not to visit the newly-born till 14 days after
the birth, in order not to interfere with the Midwife. Were the
Local Authority the supervising one under the Midwives Acts, visits
might be made earlier and such conditions would be bound to
receive attention, for Midwives, to avoid reprimand, would find it
wiser to comply with the rules.
An innovation was made in the latter part of the year by the
appointment of a Municipal Midwife on a salary basis, the Council
receiving the fees. Nurse Barcroft, the Midwife appointed, took
up her duties in December. By attending at the Infant Welfare
Centres she has quickly got to know many of the mothers, who
express their appreciation of her services. To comply with the
Midwives Acts, she is under the supervision of the Middlesex
County Council's Inspector of Midwives.
Work at Clinics.
The two clinics at the Council House and Isleworth Public
Hall respectively have remained open throughout the year, and,
judging by the attendances at each, have shewn no signs of their
popularity waning. The attendances totalled 3,599 for the year
as compared with 2,299 in 1919. The average attendance at the
Council House being 34 5 and at the Isleworth Centre 26'2.
It must be recorded that, owing to the largely increased
attendance at the Council House, it was found necessary to hold