View report page

16
MIDWIFERY SERVICE
There are 19 full-time midwives on the establishment with the additional appointment of one nursing
officer recruited from within the service under recommendation of Department of Health & Social Security for
Management in Local Authority nursing structure (Supervisor of Midwives). Ten full-time and 3 part-time
midwives were employed at the end of the year. The vacancies are not being filled for the time being due to the
diminished number of home confinements.
The trend towards hospital confinement continues with the resulting decrease in home confinements
and the steady increase in the number of early discharges from hospitals inside and outside the borough. The
graph below is an example of this trend over the past 10 years.
Bookings for early discharges escalated during the year and by the end of 1973 an estimate of 850-900
attendances per year will have been made by the midwives.
An integrated scheme for one period midwifery training commenced at Central Middlesex Hospital
in November 1972.
The attachment of midwives to general practitioners' surgeries continued and the scheme is working
satisfactorily. Those midwives not attached held their own ante-natal sessions, observing close liaison with
General Practioners, Obstetricians and hospital services. Ante-natal care included classes in preparation for
child-birth, and the classes were shared with Health Visitors.
Sterilised maternity packs were provided for all mothers having home confinements, and a modified
outfit was provided for early discharges from hospital.
The maternity medical services co-operation card was used between midwives, general practitioners,
and hospital services, ensuring that each member of the team was aware of attention given to the patients by
other members.