§ Mrs. Wiseasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to halt the deterioration in the domiciliary midwifery service, in the light of the fact that the still-birth rates for both home and hospital confinements were falling until 1970 but that the rate for home confinements has gone up since 1970.
§ Mr. MoyleResponsibility for deciding on the numbers and types of stall required to meet specific service commitments rests with individual health authorities which take into account particular local requirements and the availability of resources. The increasing trend towards an integrated midwifery service means that a number of midwives working in hospitals will also provide a service within the community and this factor should be taken into account in any assessment of the figures for community midwives. I am aware that there are problems particularly in connection with domiciliary confinements and my Department is consulting on means to overcome this.