Painless Childbirth–– Proposals To Overcome Shortage of Midwives

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22868, 11 February 1949, Page 7

Painless Childbirth–– Proposals To Overcome Shortage of Midwives

(From Reuter’s Correspondent.) LONDON. The report of the experts appointed to inquire into the reasons for . the shortage of midwives stated that it is considered that the limited means of analgesia (absence of pain) at the midwife’s disposal places her at a distinct disadvantage in the face of the growing public demand for relatively painless childbirth.

The experts urged that “the Medical Research Council be asked, as a matter of urgent public interest, to set up a committee to solve, as quickly as possible. the problem of finding a safe and effective analgesic agent for midwifery, and of devising for its administration apparatus that is light, simple and requires a minimum of maintenance.” The experts, four of them women, further advised “without the addition of this weapon to her armament the midwife cannot play her proper part in the health team. Furthermore, until this problem is solved, the swing away from domiciliary confinement will continue.” Now Being Considered The recommendations are now being 1 considered by the Health Minister, Mr. A. Bevan, the Secretary of State for Scotland, Mr. A. Woodburn, and the Labour Minister, Mr. G. Isaacs. The report states many practising midwives are overworked and the shortage is due, firstly, to nurses taking the midwifery qualifications without intending to practise; secondly, the unsatisfactory nature of the present course of training: thirdly, the high rate of examination failures; fourthly, the lack of promotibn prospects. Special steps are recommended to recruit from the 30 to 40 age group. Part-time workers should be encouraged, and more guidance given to school leavers on the scope of midwifery as a career. The experts emphasised that the midwife is no mere "delivery woman,” saying “this is the climax of her task, but it started months before, early in pregnancy and should in our view, continue for at least a month after delivery.” Urging that every midwife ought to be provided with a car and sufficient financial help to run it, the report commented: “Standing in queues for buses and trains and standing in crowded vehicles with all her paraphernalia is an exhausting and exasperating prelude to the exercise of skill and judgment required of a midwife. We are tempted to wonder what reactions there would be if doctors were expected to work in such conditions.'’ Common Basic Training A common basic training for nurses and midwives is recommended following, in the case of midwives, by a year’s specialist training with a revised and improved curriculum. Except for certain special posts, there is no need for a midwife to be a State registered nurse, but until the new training can be adopted only State registered nurses should be trained as midwives.

Separate schools of midwifery with finance and administration separate from the hosital system should be set up. Pupil midwives should have student status and there should be obligatory refresher courses for all practising midwives. Promotion prospects should be increased by ensuring that in institutions senior midwifery appointments are not absorbed by nursing personnel. For those unwilling to give up contact with patients for advancement on the administrative side, the creation of a new rank of senior sister is recommended. A review of the working of maternity services in three to five years is recommended to ensure that the partnership between doctors and midwives is being maintained and that “there is no danger of the midwife being ousted from her proper place.”