§ 62. Mrs. Mannasked the Minister of Health whether midwives are permitted to administer analgesia other than pehtidene and gas and air during confinements.
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithA midwife is only permitted to administer an analgesic in the use of which she has been thoroughly instructed in accordance with the rules of the Central Midwives Board. In practice that means at present pethidene or gas and air.
§ 63. Mrs. Mannasked the Minister of Health how many gas and air machines were in use for mothers in child-birth throughout England and Wales, in 1948. 1949, 1950, 1951 and 1952.
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithThe machines available to domiciliary midwives during the years in question were 4,098, 5,430. 6,051, 6,156 and 6,264, respectively.
§ 64. Mrs. Mannasked the Minister of Health how many births took place in England and Wales without analgesia during 1950, 1951 and 1952.
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithI regret that the information is not available.