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17
being associated with Poor Law relief, the Public Health and Housing
Committee thought the Borough Council should undertake liability for
these payments in non-pauper cases, and recommended the Council that
application be made to the Local Government Board for sanction to payment
by the Council of fees of medical practitioners whom the midwife is
compelled, under the rules of the Central Midwives Board, to summon in
dangerous emergencies in non-pauper cases within the borough, where
the patients are too poor to pay such fees.
The following reply was received from the Local Government Board,
viz.:—
Local Government Board,
Whitehall, S.W.
13th December, 1910.
Sir,
I am directed by the Local Government Board to advert to
your letter of the 18th ultimo, with regard to the payment of fees
to medical practitioners summoned by midwives in cases of emergency,
and I am to draw the attention of the Borough Council of
Poplar to the marked paragraph of the enclosed circular letter on
this subject, which the Board addressed to Boards of Guardians on
the 18th February last.
At the present time it does not appear to the Board to be
desirable to make any change in regard to this matter. As the
Borough Council are aware, legislation is proposed in regard to it.
I am, Sir,
Your obedient servant,
F. J. WILLIS,
Assistant Secretary.
The Town Clerk, Poplar.
The marked paragraph referred to in the above letter is as follows :
Payments to medical practitioners summoned by midwives
in cases of emergency.
The Committee recommend (paragraphs 71 and 77 of the
report of the Departmental Committee on the working of the
Midwives Act, 1902) that the Act of 1902 should be amended so as
to give any medical practitioner summoned by a midwife in cases
of emergency "a secure expectation of payment"; and that the
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