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MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE.
Midwifery and Maternity Services.
The total number of births which were notified as occurring in the borough
was 855. This figure does not include births which occurred elsewhere, but
which were subsequently transferred to Twickenham.
Of the births which occurred in the borough, 464—i.e., 54.3 per cent.,
were attended by midwives in their, capacity as midwives, and 391—i.e., 45.7
per cent., were attended by doctors.
Midwives Acts.
On account of the increased size and importance of the borough
consequent upon amalgamation, an order was received from the Minister of
Health at the end of September, 1937, whereby the Corporation became the
Local Supervising Authority under the Midwives Acts in place of the
Middlesex County Council. This order became operative on October 1st,
1937. The responsibility thus placed upon the Corporation constitutes the
most important and extensive addition which has been made to the public
health services of the town for many years past. Not only did the Corporation
become responsible for exercising supervision over all midwives practising in
the area—a duty formerly carried out by the Middlesex County Council—but
also for establishing and maintaining a service of Municipal Midwives. This
duty was imposed upon Local Supervising Authorities by the Midwives Act,
1936.
The proposals for the establishment of this service which were submitted
to the Minister of Health and subsequently approved, included the appointment
of seven whole-time midwives, arrangements in connection with
applications for their services, duties, control, supervision, salaries,
superannuation, uniform, residence and other conditions of employment,
together with the fees chargeable for their services and the contributions
payable by patients.
The above proposals became effective on May 16th, 1938, when six
midwives commenced duty as whole-time Municipal Midwives.
While these important additions were being made, the established
branches of the Maternity and Child Welfare service were being carried out
with increased activity.
Care of Expectant Mothers.
The number of sessions devoted to this important work were as follows:—
York House centre One weekly session.
Whitton centre ,, ,,
Teddington centre ,, ,,
Hampton centre One session first and third
week of each month.
At the end of the year, the Teddington clinic was transferred to the same
premises as the Infant Welfare centre, which was held at the Art school,
Church road.
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