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to a large extent in Soho and in the district lying immediately to the
south of Oxford Street.
The needs of necessitous cases throughout the City are therefore
adequately met. Only 4 private practising midwives reside in the City,
but the total number of midwives who practice in the area is estimated
to be 31.
The London County Council is the local supervising authority underthe
Midwives Act. and all payments to medical practitioners and midwives
authorized under this Act are made by this body.
Maternity and Nursing Homes.—A part from the general sanitary
supervision of premises, workplaces, &c., which the City Council exercises,
it has no control over the registration and organization of these homes.
The London County Council is the authority under the Nursing Homes
Registration Act, 1927. From a schedule of maternity and nursing homes
in London issued by the County Council it would appear that there are 7
such homes in Westminster.
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
???assist in the investigations and have readily supplied information.
As regards maternal deaths, the method of inquiry suggested by the
Ministry and the questionnaire issued by the Maternal Mortality Committee
set up by the Ministry has been used. In this instance also medical
practitioners have assisted in every possible way in making investigations
as complete as possible. The information relating to maternal deaths
is collected and compiled personally by the Medical Officer of Health
as tne matters under consideration are of a strictly confidential nature.
In cases where the circumstances are such as to warrant expert investigation
on clinical grounds, the Council has retained the services of Dr.
Aubrey Goodwin, the obstetrical specialist, to confer with the practitioner
concerned and to report his investigations to the Medical Officer of Health.
Local By-laws and Regulations.—The following by-laws and regulations
made by the City Council are in force in the City and became
operative on the dates mentioned:—