Maternity and child welfare (memorandum)
1930-12 1930 1930s 8 pages 5 of skilled attention, but also obviates the risks associated with the employment of a handywoman or untrained "nurse." 2. In most rural areas both midwifery and maternity nursing can only be carried out satisfactorily by midwives employed by District...
| Institution: | MCR - The Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick |
|---|---|
| Language: | English English |
| Published: |
December 1930
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/10796/026F37F1-B00D-4DC6-8FE4-2C86BDE469BE http://hdl.handle.net/10796/E03FEA9F-EB6C-4C38-ABD7-C5152507BC1F |
| Summary: | 1930-12
1930
1930s
8 pages
5 of skilled attention, but also obviates the risks associated with the employment of a handywoman or untrained "nurse." 2. In most rural areas both midwifery and maternity nursing can only be carried out satisfactorily by midwives employed by District Nursing Associations, and in many areas this is already done with financial assistance from the County Council. But there are still a number of rural parishes without midwives, and these are generally sparsely populated areas which cannot support a nurse-midwife without substantial assistance from the County Council. In such areas there is usually a special need for the services of a midwife if skilled attendance is to be available for the mothers, but there is often a difficulty in attracting a well-qualified and keen midwife owing to the paucity of both nursing and midwifery cases. This difficulty might be overcome with the assistance of the County Council by the formation of new District Nursing Associations covering a wide area, or by an extension of the areas served by existing Associations, if such facilities as a motor-car and a telephone service were provided for the midwife. In some cases it might be found possible to secure for a more limited area the services of a midwife who has already had considerable experience, and who would welcome the opportunity of lighter work and greater leisure. It is hoped that this matter will receive careful consideration by the Councils of those Counties in which there are any areas without a supply of midwives. 3. In many urban districts there is a need for a better distribution of midwives, and for a greater use of their services for maternity nursing. Some Local Authorities already employ either whole-time or part-time municipal midwives, and there would be advantage in an extension of these arrangements. It is of course necessary to avoid the displacement of competent independent midwives already in practice in the district by other midwives appointed by the Local Authority, and to maintain the right of the mother to employ the midwife she prefers ; but by the judicious support of midwives already in practice, and by placing midwives in areas where they would be unable to make a living without assistance, the Local Authority can ensure ready access to a midwife by all women requiring her services, and can also do much to improve the conditions of practice for the midwives. 4. The employment of handywomen is still a common practice in some urban districts, and it is not unusual to find that the midwives in these districts are by no means fully occupied and have difficulty in earning a living. In many cases a woman who engages a doctor for her confinement is unable also to pay the fee of a midwife to act as maternity nurse, and it is suggested that Local Authorities should encourage the employment of midwives in these cases by contributing to the fee of the midwife. It will be essential to secure
292/824/1/71 |
|---|---|
| Physical Description: | TEXT |