Fonds GB 1538 RCOG/D3 - Standing Maternity and Midwifery Advisory Committee

Identity area

Reference code

GB 1538 RCOG/D3

Title

Standing Maternity and Midwifery Advisory Committee

Date(s)

  • 1944-1974 (Creation)

Level of description

Fonds

Extent and medium

1 box

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

The National Health Service Act 1946 established a Central Health Services Council to advise the Minister of Health and this included, ex-officio, the presidents of the medical Royal Colleges. It also empowered him to constitute standing advisory committees to provide guidance on particular services. Initially, nine such committees were appointed, a Maternity and Midwifery Advisory Committee being one. In 1967 this considered the future of the domiciliary midwifery service and bed needs for maternity patients in the context of an increasing hospital confinement rate, a shorter length of hospital stay and a falling birth rate. It established a subcommittee to examine the issue. This held its first meeting in September 1967. Sir John Peel was elected Chairman. It met thirteen times and took evidence from a range of organisations and individuals. Its 1970 report, known as the Peel Report, was subsequently controversial for its recommendation that 'sufficient facilities shuld be provoided to allow for 100% hospital delivery' and that 'the greater safety of hospital confinement for mother and child justifies this objective.'

Archival history

The Committee is serviced by the Postgraduate Training Department, which transfers records to the Archives on a regular basis.

GB 1538 RCOG/D3 1944-1974 fonds 1 box Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

The National Health Service Act 1946 established a Central Health Services Council to advise the Minister of Health and this included, ex-officio, the presidents of the medical Royal Colleges. It also empowered him to constitute standing advisory committees to provide guidance on particular services. Initially, nine such committees were appointed, a Maternity and Midwifery Advisory Committee being one. In 1967 this considered the future of the domiciliary midwifery service and bed needs for maternity patients in the context of an increasing hospital confinement rate, a shorter length of hospital stay and a falling birth rate. It established a subcommittee to examine the issue. This held its first meeting in September 1967. Sir John Peel was elected Chairman. It met thirteen times and took evidence from a range of organisations and individuals. Its 1970 report, known as the Peel Report, was subsequently controversial for its recommendation that 'sufficient facilities shuld be provoided to allow for 100% hospital delivery' and that 'the greater safety of hospital confinement for mother and child justifies this objective.'

The Committee is serviced by the Postgraduate Training Department, which transfers records to the Archives on a regular basis.

It is probable that C7/1-3 were removed from President's correspondence files. The records at C7/4-5 were transferred to the Archives by the Committee Secretary, Administration Department. The 1993 report on GP vocational training in obstetrics and gynaecology (C7/5) was found amongst President's papers for that year.

Records of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists' Standing Maternity and Midwifery Advisory Committee, 1944-1974, comprising correspondence and papers of John Peel as Chair of the Sub-committee to consider the future of the Domiciliary Midwifery Services and Bed Needs, 1968-1969; papers of RCOG Presidents Norman Jeffcoate and Stanley Clayton as chairmen of the Standing Maternity and Midwifery Advisory Committee during their respective terms of office, 1970-1974; also includes RCOG publications on national maternity and obstetric services, 1944-1968.

In 1999 a Disposal Agreement (DA/5) was made between the Administration Department and the College Archives to destroy unsuccessful applications.

No further accruals are expected.

Open, although restrictions apply for items containing personal information.

English

RCOG/B3/2 have been indexed and the names of successful candidates will be found in the Index to the Guide to the College Archives.

A microfilm copy of the minute book at C7/1M is at MR/17.

Imported from the RCOG catalogue and edited by Sarah Drewery.

General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal Place and Corporate Names 1997.

Import: Oct 2008; edit: Feb 2009. Jeffcoate , Sir , Thomas Norman Arthur , 1907-1992 , Knight , obstetrician and gynaecologist Clayton , Sir , Stanley George , 1911-1986 , Knight , obstetrician and gynaecologist Peel , Sir , John Harold , b 1904 , Knight , gynaecologist Midwifery Nursing Social welfare Maternal welfare Medical sciences Obstetrics National Health Service Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

It is probable that C7/1-3 were removed from President's correspondence files. The records at C7/4-5 were transferred to the Archives by the Committee Secretary, Administration Department. The 1993 report on GP vocational training in obstetrics and gynaecology (C7/5) was found amongst President's papers for that year.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Records of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists' Standing Maternity and Midwifery Advisory Committee, 1944-1974, comprising correspondence and papers of John Peel as Chair of the Sub-committee to consider the future of the Domiciliary Midwifery Services and Bed Needs, 1968-1969; papers of RCOG Presidents Norman Jeffcoate and Stanley Clayton as chairmen of the Standing Maternity and Midwifery Advisory Committee during their respective terms of office, 1970-1974; also includes RCOG publications on national maternity and obstetric services, 1944-1968.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

In 1999 a Disposal Agreement (DA/5) was made between the Administration Department and the College Archives to destroy unsuccessful applications.

Accruals

No further accruals are expected.

System of arrangement

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Open, although restrictions apply for items containing personal information.

Conditions governing reproduction

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

RCOG/B3/2 have been indexed and the names of successful candidates will be found in the Index to the Guide to the College Archives.

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

A microfilm copy of the minute book at C7/1M is at MR/17.

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Publication note

Notes area

Note

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

Rules and/or conventions used

General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal Place and Corporate Names 1997.

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area