London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
London County Council 1933
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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53
Blind Persons Act, 1920.
Blind
persons.
The following table contains particulars of applicants for registration or training under the provisions of the Blind Persons Act, 1920:—
| Description. | Registration of the blind. | Training of the blind. | Total. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M. | F. | M. | F. | ||
| (1) Applicants who were examined and were certified as blind | 448 | 539 | 23 | 15 | 1,025 |
| (2) Acceptance of certificates issued by hospital and private doctors | 161 | 210 | — | — | 371 |
| (3) Applicants who were examined and not certified as blind | 110 | 115 | 16 | 8 | 249 |
| (4) Found blind but unfit for training | — | — | — | 2* | 2* |
| (5) Previously certified as blind and found fit for training | — | — | 12 | 5 | 17 |
| (6) Previously certified as blind and found unfit for training | — | — | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| Total | 719 | 864 | 55 | 29 | 1,667 |
* Included in (1) above.
Midwives Acts, 1902 to 1926, Nursing Homes Registration Act, 1927, Children Act,
1908, Adoption of Children Act, 1926, and Maternity and Child Welfare Contribution
Schemes.
Midwives.
The Midwives Acts, 1902-1926, and the Rules of the Central Midwives Board
regulating the practice of midwives provide for:—
(a) Prevention of the practice of midwifery by unauthorised persons.
(b) Training of midwives. (The Council's scheme of training includes
(i) lectures to pupil midwives; (ii) post-certificate lectures to certified midwives;
(iii) grants for special instruction of midwives and midwife-teachers.)
(c) Supervision of the practice of midwives.
(d) Suspension of midwives from practice on grounds of the possibility
of spreading infection, and compensation for loss of practice resulting from
such suspension.
(e) Payment of fees to doctors called by midwives to attend patients in
cases of abnormality or emergency.
(f) Payment of proportion of any annual deficit incurred by Central Midwives
Board.
Certified midwives to the number of 854 gave notice of intention to practise
within the county during the year, compared with 909 in 1932. Practising midwives,
other than those who work entirely in hospitals approved by the Central Midwives
Board under medical supervision, are subject to inspection by the Council's inspectors
of midwives with a view to ensuring that a proper standard of efficiency is maintained.
The work of inspection is carried out by four women assistant medical officers, who
supervise the work of the midwives generally, give advice in regard to any difficulties
that may arise in connection with their work and pay special visits where cases of a
septic nature or persistent high temperature, inflammation of the eyes or blisters on
the child occur; 2,623 visits were paid this year compared with 2,398 in 1932.
Infringements of the Rules of the Central Midwives Board to the number of 51
were reported during the year, compared with 53 in 1932. Of these 36 were slight,
and a verbal caution was deemed to be sufficient; 10 cases of a more serious nature
were dealt with by a written caution, and 4 midwives were interviewed and cautioned
by the Committee. The case of another midwife was submitted to the Central
Midwives Board, who censured the midwife. This case concerned the exhibition
by the midwife of a name plate which did not comply with the rules of the Board,
and which the midwife refused to remove or alter when requested by the Council.