[Report 1936] / Medical Officer of Health, Newport (Gwent) County Borough.

  • Newport (Wales). County Council.
Date:
1936
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1936] / Medical Officer of Health, Newport (Gwent) County Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    If the practice recommended by some of postponing visitation of homes until the midwife had ceased visiting were adopted serious results might follow, in the case of Ophthalmia Neonatorum in particular. This applies to other conditions also, such as in- ability to carry on breast feeding from lack of food, etc. Supervision of Midwives. Dr. Laird, who acts as Superintendent of Midwives, reports as follows — At the beginning of 1936 there were 45 midwives on the register. During the year 5 of these gave up practice in the town, and 10 new names were added—of the latter 4 were re-registered midwives. The number of births—including abortions—attended by the midwives was 1,119. In 310 of these cases medical practitioners were also engaged, and in 643 cases medical aid was obtained. Herbert Street Home was responsible for 281 cases. Of the other midwives in practice only 4 attended over 100 cases, 4 had over 50 cases and 8 midwives had no cases at all. 21 midwives were totally dependent upon their practice for a living, 14 partially and 1 5 not at all. 45 of the midwives had the C.M.B. Certificate by examina- tion, the remaining 5 were untrained. Of the 45 trained midwives 14 had also the general nursing certificate. The records of having sent for medical help received from the midwives were as follows ;— For the Mother— During Pregnancy ... ... ... i68 During Labour ... ... ... 426 During Puerperium... ... ... 49