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Maternity Cases Attended
There were 321 domiciliary confinements reported and 2,313
hospital confinements during the year. This shows a reduction of
151 on the figure for 1967. Midwives employed by the Authority
attended 321 (318 where a doctor was booked and three where no
doctor was booked) of the 321 domiciliary cases.
Inhalational Analgesia
All the Authority's midwives are qualified to administer inhalational
analgesia (trilene and gas and oxygen) in accordance with the
rules of the Central Midwives Board.
During the year district midwives administered inhalational
analgesics to mothers as follows:—
Gas and oxgen—160 Trilene—38
Ophthalmia Neonatorum
No case of ophthalmia neonatorum was notified during the year.
Maternity Outfits
A free issue of maternity outfits is made in accordance with
instructions of the Department of Health and Social Security, namely,
to those patients whose confinement will be conducted under the
National Health Service arrangement. These are issued by midwives
to their patients.
Medical Aid
Medical aid was summoned by midwives in 81 domiciliary cases
where a doctor was already booked for the confinement.
Early Discharges from Maternity Hospitals
The numbers of discharges from hospital before the tenth day
of puerperium were as follows:—
48 hours after confinement 296
Other discharges before the tenth day 117
Total 413
This shows an overall increase of 102 on those for 1967.
Midwifery Training
During the year 25 Student Midwives completed their domiciliary
training, 14 from St. Teresa's Hospital, 11 from Epsom Hospital.
Nine of our midwives are approved by the Central Midwives Board
as District Midwifery Teachers for the practical training of Student
Midwives.
Eight obstetric student nurses from St. Helier Hospital spent a
day with a midwife, observing at first sight some of the services in
the community for the ante- and post- natal care of mothers booked
for home confinement and planned 48 hour discharge.
Post-Graduate Courses
One midwife attended a Refresher Course in accordance with the
rules of the Central Midwives Board. Two midwives attended a study
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