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10
Nursing in the Home.—The following District Nursing Associations,
undertake the nursing of the poor in their homes in three areas of the
City
The Metropolitan Nursing Association,
The Westminster Nursing Association,
The Pimlico. Belgravia and Chelsea Nursing Association,
Their work is carried out in close co-operation with the health services
of the Council, particularly in regard to the work of the Maternity and
Child Welfare Centres and Tuberculosis Dispensary.
The Associations undertake on behalf of the City Council, by agreement,
the nursing of children up to the age of 5 years of any ailment which can
be nursed at home. This includes cases of measles, whooping cough,
mumps, gastro enteritis, ophthalmia neonatorum, primary pneumonia,
&c. In 1928 pneumonia and influenzal pnemonia. in adults were included
in the agreements and in 1929 women suffering from any condition arising
from, or connected with, pregnancy or childbirth. Payment is made by
the Council to the Association at the rate of 1s. 6d. for each nursing visit..
Mid wives.—The City Council is not the supervising authority under
the Midwives Acts. Under the powers conferred by the Maternity and
Child Welfare Act, 1918, the Council employ one midwife, who practises
for necessitous cases in the Victoria, Knightsbridge St. George and
Hamlet wards of the City.
From a return provided by the L.C.C. the number of midwives practising
in the City is estimated at 31.
Maternity and Nursing Homes.—The Council is not the authority.
under the Midwives and Maternity Homes Act, 1920, nor under the
Nursing Homes Registration Act, 1927. There are believed to be 5 of such
homes in the City.
Maternal Sickness and Mortality.—The City Council appointed Dr.
Aubrey Goodwin, Assistant Obstetric Surgeon to Westminster Hospital,
under the Puerperal Fever and Puerperal Pyrexia Regulations, 1926, and
also made arrangements with the three District Nursing Associations for
the home nursing of cases. Circular instructions were issued to all
medical practitioners practising in the City, informing them that the
services of Dr. Goodwin were available on notifying a case under these
regulations, also acquainting them of the nursing services which the
Council had provided. The special hospital accommodation of the
M.A.B. for puerperal cases was also brought to their notice. When cases
have occurred, it is found that medical practitioners have been anxious
to assist in the investigations and have readily supplied information.