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midwives in Surrey has been carried out, under arrangement with
the Surrey County Council, by the local Medical Officers of Health.
Somewhat abruptly, towards the end of 1909, this arrangement was
determined by the Surrey County Council, as it was felt that a
task which had been shared by the numerous Medical Officers of
Health throughout the county, would be better carried out by a lady
who would devote half her time to it, and half to the work of the
Surrey County Nursing Association.
The fact that local Medical Officers of Health, especially when
engaged in practice, have abundant opportunity in the course of
their daily work of gaining knowledge of the capacity and character
of the midwives, has been thought to be outweighed by the advantage
of visits two or three times a year by an Inspector, who would be
responsible for the whole county.
I understand, also, that the suggestion was made that Medical
Officers of Health engaged in practice might be induced to take a
favourable view of a midwife's work if she were in the habit of
calling him in in emergencies, although most, if not all such
Medical Officers have been, in the past, glad that their quasi-judicial
position has given them an excuse to ask midwives not to send for
them on these unprofitable occasions.
It is, of course, obvious that under the new regime, the same
prompt official action cannot be possible as hitherto in certain
cases, and it is not clear as yet how the central supervising
authority proposes to obtain information of irregularities, and the
practice of unregistered persons.
There are at present three trained and registered midwives in
Barnes and Mortlake, all of whom are competent and do their work
well.
Two registered but untrained midwives are also enrolled,
though one of them does not practise.