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MIDWIFERY
Staff
As at 31st December, 1968, the staff consisted of:—
1 Non-medical Supervisor of Midwives.
8 Whole-time District Midwives.
2 District Nurse/Midwives.
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
operate separately.
Introductory
The number of home confinements continued to decrease, following
the pattern of the past few years. Although this has reduced
the actual number of home confinements attended by individual midwives,
there has been no reduction of the overall work load, since the
numbers of planned 48-hour discharges and unplanned early discharges
increased during the year. As will be seen from the figures on
page 35 there were 413 early discharges from hospital in 1968,
compared with 311 in 1967.
Organisation
Two midwives are housed at 28/30 Kings Road, Wimbledon,
S.W.19, one at 'The Croft', Mitcham, one in a flat leased from the
Greater London Council, and the remaining three in their own homes.
Three District Nurse/Midwives relieve full-time midwives during
holidays, Refresher Courses, sickness, etc.
All midwives are motorists using either their own cars, or ones
supplied by the Authority. One District Nurse/Midwife is a cyclist.
A rota system of duty is in operation, ensuring sufficient sleep
and rest for the midwives.
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