Maternal mortality report
1934-10 1934 1930s 19 pages GENERAL CONCLUSIONS We note with great pleasure that, speaking generally, there has been definite progress and improvement in maternity services in most parts of the country, in spite of financial difficulties, and of the apathy which naturally follows a policy of inacti...
| Institution: | MCR - The Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick |
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| Language: | English English |
| Published: |
London : The Maternal Mortality Committee
October 1934
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/10796/8205082F-780D-4517-8E06-D407D51618EE http://hdl.handle.net/10796/6ADFFD7A-B65A-4A31-9873-419EC79CDB3C |
| Summary: | 1934-10
1934
1930s
19 pages
GENERAL CONCLUSIONS We note with great pleasure that, speaking generally, there has been definite progress and improvement in maternity services in most parts of the country, in spite of financial difficulties, and of the apathy which naturally follows a policy of inaction. We feel, however, that the time has come for a further advance in the quality and comprehensiveness of the services offered, and we welcome an announcement by the Minister of Health on May 8, saying that he proposes to issue a new circular urging Local Authorities to make fuller use of their powers. The most notable advance in Maternity Services is the increase in the number of Maternity Beds, mainly in connection with the hospitals transferred to Local Authorities under the Local Government Act, 1929 ; and the willingness of the women to make use of these beds and of the ante-natal clinics set up in connection with them shows how much such facilities are appreciated. The shortage of hospital accommodation which formerly existed is thus being remedied in some areas, though it is not sufficient to have an adequate number of beds unless the hospital administration is also satisfactory. The attention of this Conference should, therefore, be focussed particularly on the improvement of domiciliary midwifery. It is probable that the greater number of women will for many years to come continue to be confined at home rather than in hospital, and under proper conditions there is even less risk to the mother who remains at home than to the one who goes to hospital. "Proper conditions" include a competent midwife working in co-operation with a doctor who has supervised the pregnancy, is prepared to come if emergency arises at the confinement, and is able to call in a consultant, if necessary ; they also imply careful maternity nursing, sufficient nourishment, and reasonably comfortable and sanitary surroundings. The medical and nursing supervision and care should continue until the woman is restored to her normal health. Something has been done to secure these conditions, but not enough. Medical Care Not every doctor is interested in, or good at, midwifery practice. It is important that, as far as possible, a woman should be able to choose a doctor who is skilled in midwifery. The General Medical Council has, as already reported, taken steps to secure better training for medical students in midwifery. Further, Local Authorities in a number of areas have set up schemes for the ante-natal supervision by general practitioners of women who have chosen to be attended by midwives. Under such schemes the names of doctors desiring to take part are placed on a panel ; the (16)
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| Physical Description: | TEXT |