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9. Maternity and Nursing Homes.—Registration, etc.—The City
Council has no concern with the registration and supervision of these
Homes in Westminster. That is the work of the L.C.C. The City Council's
officers have, however, power of entry as regards matters of sanitation,
infectious disease such as ophthalmia neonatorium, puerperal fever,
etc. Last year 3 visits were paid to Nursing and Maternity Homes.
It is not known how often officers of the L.C.C. also visited. In the booklet
published by the L.C.C. it is stated that there are seven Nursing Homes,
six of which have been approved for the reception of maternity patients.
10. Maternal Mortality.—The arrangements for the investigation of
maternal deaths are as follows. In accordance with the suggestions
contained in Circulars 888 and 934 of 1928, the Medical Officer was
appointed to investigate in consultation with the practitioner concerned
each case where expert experience appeared to be necessary, the Council's
obstetric consultant under the Puerperal Fever and Pyrexia Regulations,
Dr. Aubrey Goodwin, Hon. Obstetrician to Westminster Hospital was
appointed as expert for such inquiries. During the year 1930, ten
maternal deaths were certified. All took place after admission to hospital
(except one, who died in the ambulance), and reports have been furnished
to the Maternal Mortality Committee of the Ministry. In no case was it
necessary to call upon the services of Dr. Goodwin, as full information was
supplied by each institution concerned. The home and social conditions
were reported upon by the Health Visitors.
Puerperal Fever and Puerperal Pyrexia.—Under the Regulations the
City Council in 1927 made the following arrangements:—
(1) Provision of a consultant on request of a medical practitioner.
Dr. Goodwin, Hon. Assistant Obstetrician to Westminster
Hospital, was appointed by the Council and his services are
available for any case of puerperal fever or puerperal pyrexia
where the doctor attending desires a second opinion or
diagnosis or treatment. He was not called upon during 1930.
(2) Bacteriological examinations of blood or discharge are carried
out by Dr. Braxton Hicks, Bacteriologist to Westminster
Hospital, and appointed by the City Council under these
Regulations. No examinations were requested in 1930.
(3) Hospital treatment is provided by the L.C.C. in special
tions at the request and on notification by medical practitioners.
19 cases were removed to hospital in 1930.
(4) Nursing in the home is provided by the Council through the three
District Nursing Associations. A medical practitioner may