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Maternity Outfits, each with an 8 ounce bottle of dettol, are supplied at the
appropriate time through the Domiciliary Midwives to all expectant mothers who are to
be confined at home.
Supervision of Midwives. The Senior Assistant Medical Officer for Maternity and
Child Welfare has continued to act as medical supervisor of midwives. The Non-Medical
Supervisor of Midwives, who is also the Supervisor of Home Nurses, is in almost daily
contact with the municipal midwives. Informal meetings of the midwives with both
their supervisors are held as often as circumstances permit, and many interesting
matters have been discussed with profit. The duties of the Non-Medical Supervisor
have included:-
(a) Periodic visits to the domiciliary midwives, both in their own homes and when
they are attending to their patients, for the purpose of statutory supervision
and to give advice and guidance.
(b) Visits to the ante-natal clinic at which the midwives carry out the examination
of their patients.
(c) Relief work at the clinics and on the district, when necessary.
(d) Investigation of notifications received from the midwives tinder the rules of
the Central Midwives Board.
(e) Consultation with other senior officers on matters affecting the midwifery
service.
Administration of Analgesia by Midwives.
All the domiciliary midwives at present employed are qualified to administer gas
and air and have been trained in the administration of Pethidine. The apparatus for the
administration of gas and air analgesia are sufficient to meet the need and the arrangements
for the transport of this apparatus by the Ambulance Service have proved very satisfactory.
In addition, the apparatus is now available at all clinic sessions so that the mothers can
be instructed in its use before labour commences. This early introduction helps to allay
fear and enables the mother to take more advantage of the available analgesia. Following
the publication of the new rules of the Central Midwives Board, which permits midwives to
administer Trilene to their patients, under certain conditions, the Council agreed to the
purchase of the necessary machines. By the end of the year one machine had been received
and two midwives had attended a course on the administration of Trilene which was held at
Forest Gate Hospital. Once again we are such indebted to this hospital for making their
facilities available to our staff.
It is not anticipated that every mother will need or will benefit from Trilene, but
with increasing experience of its use the administration to selected patients should give
them much help. Out of 388 domiciliary confinements gas and air was given to 201 mothers
(approximately 50 per cent) and Pethidine to 113 mothers, (approximately 30 per cent).
We had not yet started to use Trilene by the end of the year.
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