[Report 1933] / Medical Officer of Health, South Shields County Borough.

  • South Shields (Durham, England). County Borough Council.
Date:
1933
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1933] / Medical Officer of Health, South Shields County Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    100/114 (page 98)
    T]ie Inspector of Midvrives paid 52 routine and 23 special visits to the homes of midwives to insect their records, appliances, etc., and had 21 interviews with midwives at the Health Depart¬ ment. Towards the end of the year the Council agreed to pay the midwives’ fees of £1 Is. Od. for each case (12/6d. in the case of abortion) among insured persons where maternity benefit had ceased, and who could not otherwise pay the midwife’s fee. It was suggested by the Ministry of Health that the fees be paid in all necessitous cases but the Council were unable to accede to the Ministry’s request. It is to be regretted that this decision should have been necessary as such a scheme would s:o far in eliminatino; the ‘ ‘ handv woman ’ ’ who can be a potential source of danger when in attendance at con¬ finements. The following is a report made to me by the Inspector of Midwives :— ‘ ‘ I am pleased to record my appreciedion of the work of the practising midwives in the Borough during the past year. There were no cases reported to the Central Midwives Board and no serious cases of negligence. This I attribute in a great measure to the influence of the Branch of the Association of Mid¬ wives, now existing in South Shields ; with one or two exceptions all the midvdves are members. Through the kindness of the Health Committee tlie use of a clinic room is granted one evening each month. This privilege is much appreciated, the meetings there being well attended. Lectures have been given by lecturers from headquarters of the Association. Several medical practitioners in the town also have been good enough to give lectures. They were all very instructive and were well attended and much appreciated. The payment of midwives’ fees by the Maternity an Child Welfare Committee in necessitous cases will I am sure prove to be money well spent. The loyalty of the midwives to the Local Supervising Authority is unquestionable, and the standard of their work will compare most favourably with other County Boroughs. I find the midwives ready to follow any suggestions for the improvement of tlieir work, and willing to assist each other.”