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55
Midwives.
There are eight midwives in the district, five trained
and three untrained. The number appears to be sufficient,
although some appear to take on more cases than can be
attended personally with complete efficiency.
The control of midwives in this district is in the hands
of the Middlesex County Council and not the local district
council.
Care of Expectant Mothers.
The arrangements for consultations for expectant
mothers were continued by Dr. Hatton and advantage was
taken of the opportunities, but to a somewhat limited extent,
there being 65 of these consultations during the year.
It is unlikely that this aspect of the work will develop
very rapidly until the opening of the long expected Maternity
Home, where consultations for expectant mothers will
become a routine preliminary to admission and can with
advantage be continued with the other work of the Home.
Maternity Home.
As mentioned in the report for 1919, the Maternity and
Child Welfare Committee had devoted considerable attention
to the question of providing a maternity home and
were endeavouring to find suitable premises. The
possibility of joint action with neighbouring districts
had been suggested and representatives from the
Council attended a conference with the Teddington District
Council, on January 12th, 1920, at which the representatives
of both Councils unanimously agreed upon the principle of
establishing a maternity home, managed by a joint committee
of the two Councils.
About the same time, a conference of representatives of
various authorities in South Middlesex was convened by the