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The number of cases attended by midwives (excluding cases
delivered in hospital by midwives) during the year was 2,210:—
(a) As midwives 2013
(b) As maternity nurses 197
Medical aid was summoned under Section 14 (1) of the Midwives'
Act, 1918, in 494 cases.
The number of births notified by midwives (i.e. by midwives
practising in local maternity hospitals and in the district) = 4,676
which is equivalent to 79.2 per cent. of the total notified births.
Subsidy to Midwives.
Under this Scheme the Council subsidises District Midwives
in respect of patients referred by them to the Clinics for antenatal
supervision, but who are subsequently found by the Clinic Medical
Officer to be unsuitable for confinement at home. During 1936,
subsidy was paid in respect of 16 patients.
Suspension from Practice of a Midwife.
As a result of the unsatisf actory work and methods of practice
of a midwife in independent practice in the Borough, it was found
necessary to suspend her from practice pending an investigation
by the Central Midwives' Board. At the hearing of the case, the
charges brought against her by the Council through the Medical
Officer of Health in October, 1936, the action of the Local Supervising
Authority, i.e. the Council, was fully endorsed by the
Board, who cancelled forthwith the Certificate of the midwife,
thus prohibiting her from further attendance as a midwife on any
woman in childbirth.
Distribution of Dried Milk to Expectant and Nursing Mothers
and to Children under 3 years of age.
This important service has continued to function satisfactorily:
the milk is distributed from five Centres in the Borough, viz. :
84 West Ham Lane, Stratford.
Public Hall, Barking Road, Canning Town.
Maternity and Child Welfare Centre, Forest Gate.
Maternity and Child Welfare Centre, Westwood Road,
Silvertown.
Nurses' Home, Howards Road, Plaistow.
I he dried milk powder is obtained in bulk and packed in l1b.
packets at the Centre in West Ham Lane; it is distributed free
or at a cheap rate to the mothers in special cartons, each bearing
thrections for mixing and quantities for use in infant feeding.
Samples from each consignment of milk have been submitted for
bacteriological and chemical examination, with satisfactory
results.
During 1936 approximately 128 tons have been distributed
under the Council's Scheme
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