HC Deb 03 June 1949 vol 465 cc191-2W
Mr. P. Thorneycroft

asked the Minister of Health (1) to state for the latest convenient date the number of midwives employed directly or indirectly by each local health authority in England and Wales; the number of such midwives who have been trained in the use of the gas and air machine; and the number of midwives who have successfully undergone such training during the previous 12 months;

(2) to state for the latest convenient date for each local health authority in England and Wales the number of midwives provided with a motor car by the local health authority; the number using their own and given a car allowance; the number of cars on order; the number of gas and air machines available; and the number of such machines ordered but not yet delivered;

(3) to state for each local health authority in England and Wales the number of live births which took place during 1948; the number of such births which took place at home with midwife only in attendance, at home with doctor in attendance, and in hospital respectively; and the number of cases in each of these categories in which analgesia was administered.

Mr. Bevan

I regret that much of the information asked for in these Questions is not at present available, and other items are not available for the same date of comparable periods. Comprehensive returns, in the form of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy, are, however, due from the local health authorities next month, and when they have been summarised I shall be pleased to provide a full statement.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) to state for each local health authority the number of live births which took place during 1948; the number of such births which took place at home with midwife only in attendance, at home with doctor in attendance, and in hospital, respectively; and the number of cases in each of these categories in which analgesia was administered.

Mr. Woodburn

I regret that detailed information is not yet available.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to state for the latest convenient date the number of midwives employed, directly or indirectly, by each local health authority in Scotland; the number of such midwives who have been trained in the use of the gas and air machine; and the number of midwives who have successfully undergone such training during the previous 12 months.

Mr. Woodburn

I am arranging to send to the hon. Member the information requested in respect of each local health authority. This shows that in Scotland as a whole, at 31st March, 1949, there were 1,289 midwives employed directly or indirectly on domiciliary midwifery services; that 368 of these had been trained in the use of the gas and air machine, of whom 266 had completed their training during the preceding twelve months; and that a further 100 practising midwives were then undertaking the necessary training.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to state for the latest convenient date for each local health authority in Scotland the number of midwives provided with a motor car by the local health authority; the number using their own and given a motor car allowance; the number of motor cars on order; the number of gas and air machines available; and the number of such machines ordered but not yet delivered.

Mr. Woodburn

With regard to the first two parts of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 5th April last. The total number of motor cars on order for this purpose is not available. With regard to the last two parts of the Question there were in Scotland 205 gas and air machines provided for domiciliary midwives at 31st March, 1949, and a further 36 machines were then on order. I am sending details for each local health authority to the hon. Member.

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