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Staff
MIDWIFERY
As at 31st December, 1972, the staff consisted of:—
1 Principal Nursing Officer (Home Nursing and Midwifery) who
is also Non-Medical Supervisor of Midwives.
1 Senior Nursing Officer, who is also qualified to act as NonMedical
Supervisor of Midwives.
8 Whole-time district midwives.
Introductory
As anticipated, and in line with national trends, the number of
babies born at home has continued to decline. There were 82 home
confinements in 1972 compared with 135 in 1971. There has, however,
been an increase in the number of mothers being taken, when in
labour, into hospital by the domiciliary midwife who delivers her in
the maternity unit. The mother and baby are, if their condition is
satisfactory, quickly discharged home to be nursed. This system has
much to commend it, it enables the patient to get to know and trust
the midwife who cares for her in the ante-natal period. Any anxiety
concerning labour can be allayed by being delivered by someone whom
she knows, in the setting of a well-equipped hospital where prompt
medical assistance is available should die need arise. When delivered,
if she and her new baby are well, she does not then have to be separated
for long from her husband and other members of the family.
The number of mothers who are otherwise booked for planned early
discharge from hospital remains high, and the number of visits paid
to mothers discharged early increased in 1972 to 5,609. In 1971 the
figure was 4,841.
Midwives screened 672 babies by Guthrie test (for phenylketonuria).
These were babies delivered at home or discharged from hospital
before the sixth day. 41 repeat tests were undertaken.
Organisation
Two district nurse/midwives relieve the full-time midwives during
holidays, refresher courses, sickness, etc. All midwives are motorists
using either their own car or one supplied by the Authority.
Maternity Cases Attended
There were 82 domiciliary confinements reported and 2,281
hospital confinements during the year. This shows a reduction of 53
on the figure for 1971. Midwives employed by this Authority attended
all home confinements, a doctor having been booked in all but three
of the 82 cases.
Inhalational Analgesia
All the Authority's midwives are qualified in administering inhalational
analgesia (trilene and gas and oxygen) in accordance with
the rules of the Central Midwives' Board. During the year district
midwives administered inhalational analgesia to mothers as follows: —
Gas and oxygen—67 Trilene—13
40