§ 32. Mr. Lawsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the average annual case load of a domiciliary midwife in the County of Lanark, and the range by which such case loads vary in different parts of the county.
§ Mr. Brooman-WhiteThe average case load is 55 to 60. I am informed that the case loads of midwives employed by the county council on a contract of service range from about 40 to about 100. There are in addition four midwives working on a fee-per-case basis, and one of these is understood to have a case load of about 120.
§ Mr. LawsonIn view of the fact that the average given for 1961 is 42, is it not scandalous that one of these midwives should be carrying as many as 120 cases? Is not this something which indicates how badly off the County of Lanark is in this respect? Will the hon. Gentleman now look at it again and see what he can do to help Lanarkshire to meet this difficulty?
§ Mr. Brooman-WhiteI agree with the hon. Gentleman that Lanarkshire is suffering special difficulties in this matter, and we will certainly do everything we can to assist the county council, with which the primary responsibility rests.
§ Mr. LawsonWill the hon. Gentleman remember that it has been pointed out that 55 cases are as many as any midwife should be expected to carry in this respect, and that here we have a case of 120? Surely, this is absurd?
§ Mr. Brooman-WhiteI agree that the Scottish average on the whole is considerably below the Lanarkshire average. There are exceptional cases in Lanarkshire which cause all concern.