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agreed, as a temporary arrangement, to carry out the work as part of the routine
inspection undertaken by its visitors under the Children Act. In 1921 local war
pensions committees were formed in the various metropolitan boroughs to carry on
the work of the London War Pensions Committee and the inspections have since
been continued temporarily.
Lying-inhomes.
Part IV. (Lying-in homes) of the London County Council (General Powers)
Act, 1921, repealed Part IV. (Lying-in homes) of the London County Council
(General Powers) Act, 1915, but provided that any registration under that Act
should be of the same validity and effect as if effected under the later Act. The
Act of 1921 prohibits any person from carrying on a lying-in home unless
such person and the premises used are registered with the Council. In
addition to specifying the particulars which must be submitted, the Act empowers
the Council to refuse to register or to cancel registration if (i.) the person is under the
age of 21, (ii.) person is unsuitable, (iii.) premises or their equipment are unsuitable,
(iv.) premises are used or intended to be used for the accommodation at any one
time of an excessive number of patients, and (v.) premises or any other premises used
for any purpose in connection with such first-mentioned premises or with any business
or occupation carried on therein are being used for any immoral purpose. Recognised
hospitals and similar establishments, homes approved for the training of midwives
and lying-in homes in which relatives alone are received are exempt from the Act.
Homes carried on by duly registered medical practitioners are also exempt provided
that the necessary approved certificate is submitted to the Council annually. The
Council is authorised to make by-laws prescribing the records to be kept of the patients
received and the business carried on and requiring the notification of any deaths,
and is empowered to inspect any premises used or believed to be used as a lying-in
home and the entries in any records kept in connection therewith. In accordance
with this authority the Council, on 1st August, 1922, made by-laws on the lines
specified in the Act, which by-laws were duly confirmed by the Minister of Health on
4th October, 1922.
At the end of 1922,278 premises were on the register, 51 were added during the
year, four registrations were cancelled, and 48 entries were removed (owing to
discontinuance of user, removal, etc.), leaving a net total of 277 on the register at
the end of the year. Ten premises carried on by registered medical practitioners
were exempted during the year. In 1920 the Ministry of Health issued a memorandum
(15/M & C.W.) which indicated the standards of measurements suitable for
the accommodation of maternity cases. The space suggested was 960 cubic feet a
bed for wards to contain patients with infants, 800 cubic feet a bed for wards to
contain only the mother at night, and 600 cubic feet a bed for wards to contain
ante-natal cases. The Council has decided that, when considering applications for
registration, it will have regard to these standards.
Under the powers conferred by Part IV. of the Act of 1915 as superseded by
Part IV. of the Act of 1921, the Council on 1st March, 1921, delegated to the Greenwich
Metropolitan Borough Council for one year extending to 30th June, 1922, its
powers of inspection of lying-in homes in that borough. On 25th July, 1922, the
Council, on the application of the borough council, continued this arrangement
until 30th June, 1923.
Midwives.
Under the Midwives Act, 1902, the duties of the Council, as the local supervising
authority for London, were chiefly disciplinary in connection with the conduct,
professional or otherwise, of midwives or persons practising as midwives in
London. To enable it to carry out these and allied duties the Council appointed four
qualified women medical practitioners, to inspect midwives and to investigate special
cases. The Midwives Act, 1918, passed to amend the Act of 1902, enlarged the
Council's responsibilities, the chief alteration dealing with the provision of medical
assistance for midwives. By section 14 midwives are required to summon medical
aid in an emergency as defined by the rules of the Central Midwives Board. The fees