View report page

The day-to-day supervision of the Midwifery Service is carried
out by a Non-medical Supervisor of Midwives, who is also appointed
as Superintendent of the Home Nursing Service, although the services
are operated separately.
Introductory
On the whole, the national trend of falling domiciliary confinements,
and an increase in planned early discharges from maternity
hospitals, in particular 48 hours after confinement, was again apparent
during 1966.
Organisation
It has been found practicable to retain as three midwifery areas
the districts of Wimbledon, Merton and Morden, and Mitcham, and
to have one group of midwives working in each area. A rota system
is in operation which ensures sufficient sleep and rest for midwives
between shifts, which is particularly important if a high standard of
patient care is to be ensured.
Three midwives are housed at the Nurses' Home, Kings Road,
Wimbledon, one is housed at ' The CroftCommonside East, Mitcham,
one in a flat leased from the Greatef London Council, and the
remaining five five in their own homes.
All midwives, except one who uses a bicycle, use either their own
cars or a car supplied by the Authority.
Maternity Cases Attended
There were 415 domiciliary confinements reported and 2,538
hospital confinements during the year. This shows a reduction of 41
on the figure for 1965. Midwives employed by the Authority attended
411 cases (409 where a doctor was booked and two where no doctor
was booked) of the 415 domiciliary cases.
Inhalation Analgesia
All the Authority's midwives are qualified to administer inhalational
analgesia (trilene, gas and oxygen, gas and air) in accordance
with the rules of the Central Midwives Board.
During the year district midwives administered inhalational analgesics
to mothers as follows:—
Gas and air—87. Gas and oxygen—148. Trilene—126.
By the end of the year all the remaining ' Minnit' nitrous oxide
and air machines had been replaced by ' Entonox' nitrous oxide and
oxygen machines.
Puerperal Pyrexia
Seven cases of puerperal pyrexia were notified, five of which were
hospital cases.
Ophthalmia Neonatorum
No case of ophthalmia neonatorum was notified during the year.
35