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THE PREVENTION OF INFANT MORTALITY
Notification of Births.
The Notification of Births Act, 1907, came into operation on 9th March,
1908. Primarily, the duty of notifying a birth to the Medical Officer of Health
devolves upon the father of the child if he be resident in the house at the time
of the occurrence ; secondarily, upon any person in attendance upon the mother
at the time of or within six hours after the birth. The notice must be given by
posting a prepaid letter or post card within 36 hours after the birth, or by
delivery of a written notice of the birth at the office of the Medical Officer of
Health within the same time. The local authority must supply, without charge,
addressed and stamped post cards containing the form of notice to any medical
practitioner or midwife residing or practising in their area who applies for the
same. The notification is in addition to and not in substitution for the requirements
of the Act relating to the registration of births, and it applies to any
child born after the expiration of the 28th week of pregnancy, whether alive
or dead. Liability to a penalty not exceeding twenty shillings is incurred by
any person who fails to give notice of a birth unless there is reasonable ground
to believe that notice has been duly given by some other person.