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88
It has not been considered necessary to replace them as the
decline in the number of home confinements, to which reference
was made in my annual report for 1951, has continued.
Supervision of Midwives. Inspections of registers of births,
equipment and drug books are carried out at six-monthly intervals.
Once yearly a visit is made to the midwife's home by the senior
assistant medical officer and routine inspection carried out.
Supervision of practical work at six-monthly intervals, also
attendance of non-medical supervisor at any confinement where the
midwife becomes anxious or is out over a period of many hours. A
weekly meeting of domiciliary midwives is held for the purpose of
general discussion of cases, problems connected with the work and
matters of interest connected with midwifery. In addition, the
non-medical supervisor is in touch with each midwife daily, either
personally or by telephone.
Co-operation with ieneral practitioners„ New general
practitioners are visited by the midwife working in his area, or
by the non-medical supervisor, and his wishes regarding care of
ante-natal patients ascertained. The degree of care of practitioners'
cases by the midwife is based on the individual requirements
of each doctor.
In Hornsey most of the practitioners® cases attend the local
authority clinics. This is also done in Tottenham but to a
lesser degree.
Relations between doctors and midwives in this area are
extremely cordial.