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LOAN OF NURSING EQUIPMENT
Articles of nursing and sick room equipment are loaned at the request of the general
practitioner, district nurse or hospital medico-social worker, etc. free of charge for an
indefinite period to persons being nursed in their own homes. The Council purchased many items
of additional equipment required to meet requests for loans. In addition equipment is loaned
by the British Red Cross Society and by the Council's Welfare Department to handicapped
persons. (Statistics on page 108)
DOMICILIARY MIDWIVES
The Council operates a domiciliary midwifery service under Section 23 of the National
Health Service Act 1946, by an arrangement for utilising the services of midwives employed by
the Nursing Sisters of St. John the Divine and the London Hospital. In addition the Council
directly employs a midwife who is also the non-medical supervisor of midwives.
The joint scheme for training midwives by the Nursing Sisters of St. John the Divine and
the Mile End Hospital, continued during the year. Pupils who completed the course numbered 12
with 3 pupils under training at the end of the year. The Council pays to the hospital 40
per cent of the expenditure involved under the provisions of the Ministry of Health Circular
8/56. There were 348 home confinements attended by the midwives. Six general practitioners
from practices in the borough provided ante-natal care, with midwives, at 6 of the Council 's
clinics. Statistics on page 109.
MIDWIVES ACT, 1951
The Council is a local supervising authority under the Midwives Act 1951, supervising
functions being carried out by the Council's non-medical supervisor of midwives. The number
of midwives who notified their intention to practice as midwives within the borough, including
those in hospitals, and who were practising at the end of the year was 100. By virtue of the
provisions of the Medical Practitioners (Fees) Regulations 1967, made under Section 14 of the
Midwives Act 1951, the Council is not now responsible under the Act for payment of fees to
medical practitioners summoned for medical aid to 'unbooked' patients.
MATERNITY LIAISON COMMITTEES
The department is represented on local maternity liaison committees by the medical officer
of health or deputy medical officer of health and the non-medical supervisor of midwives or the
principal nursing officer. Meetings were attended during the year when common problems were
discussed. As the borough is served by two hospital management committees, there are separate
maternity liaison committees for each group catchment area.
VACCINATION AGAINST MEASLES
Approval was given by the Minister of Health for the Council to include vaccination against
measles in its arrangements under Section 26 of the National Health Service Act 1946.
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