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25
MIDWIFERY
The Council has a statutory duty under Section 23 of the National Health
Service Act, 1946, to provide a midwifery service for attendance on raotners in
their own homes. Part of this service is provided by district midwives of the
Motners' Hospital on an agency basis and the remainder, oy midwives employed
directly Dy the Council. The number of midwives employed in this service at
31st Decemoer 1967 was:
Borough Council 6
Mothers' Hospital 4

As in 1966, the numoer of home confinements has continued to fall and the
increase in the number of patients discharged from maternity hospitals to their
nomes before the tenth day of the lying-in period has also been maintained.
In some other parts of London, hospitals have been ODliged to discharge motners
before the tenth day in order to meet the demand for maternity beds and special
early discnarge schemes have been arranged. Fortunately, though we dealt witn
257 early discharges, no special scheme was necessary to accommodate them.
The requests received from mothers for early discnarge are mainly for personal
or domestic reasons.
If a midwife is required urgently outside office hours one can be obtained
by telephoning 985-1214, whicn is manned as a 24 nour emergency service oy
staff at Hackney Hospital.
Statutory Powers
Under the provisions.of the Midwives Act, 1951, it is the duty of the
Council as local supervising authority to supply the Central Midwives Board
with the names and addresses of all certified midwives who, during the period
of twelve months ending 31st January notified their intention to practice within
the area. (This applies to midwives employed in hospitals within tne area as
well as domiciliary personnel.) In tne period ending 31st January, 1967, 118
notifications were received.
Training
In conjunction with the midwifery training school at the Motners' Hospital,
tne Council provides facilities for the practical training of pupil midwives
taking Part II of their midwifery training course. Of the 59 pupils who completed
district training in this area during the year, 8 were placed for their
tnree months' course with midwives in tne Council's domiciliary service who are
approved teachers by tne Central Midwives Board.