View report page

162
only rooms approved for maternity cases before 1st July, 1928, were used for other
types of cases were transferred to the new register of nursing homes and registration
certificates under the new Act were issued.
During 1928 a net total of 257 applications (after allowing for 31 subsequently
withdrawn or found to be made unnecessarily) was received for registration of
nursing homes, including 90 in respect of previously registered lying-in homes in
which, however, rooms other than those approved for maternity cases were used
for the nursing of patients. The work of inspection necessary to ensure adequate
standards as regards staffing, equipment, sanitation, means of escape in case of fire
and fire precautions, has proceeded during the year, and on 31st December, 1928, 128
applications had been dealt with. In 125 cases certificates of registration were
granted subject, in all but 10 instances, to the carrying out of requirements. Three
applications were refused on grounds of unsatisfactoriness. During the period 1st
July, 1928, to 31st December, 1928, registration was cancelled in respect of 24
nursing homes (including 11 lying-in homes) at the request of the keepers.
The Council has been notified of 24 hospitals and institutions which come
within provisions of the Act excluding them from its operation. 98 applications
for exemption of hospitals or institutions on the ground of their not being carried
on for profit have been received, and 59 have so far been granted for one year in the
first instance.
The Council has made by-laws prescribing the records to be kept of patients
received into nursing homes and other matters, and requiring notifications to be
given of any death occurring in such homes. The Council has placed on sale a form
of record book for use by persons carrying on nursing homes.
Midwives.
The powers and duties of the Council in relation to midwives are contained in
the Midwives Acts, 1902 to 1926.
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.
The Council was also required to suspend from practice any midwife, if such suspension
appeared to be necessary in order to prevent the spread of infection. 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 of the medical man so
called in are payable by the Council (in accordance with a scale fixed by the Local
Government Board and amended by the Ministry of Health) which has power to
recover them from the patient, her husband, or other person liable to maintain her,
unless it can be shown that such person is unable to pay the fees. This Act also
empowered the Council to pay, if it thought fit, to any midwife suspended by it from
practice to prevent the spread of infection, such reasonable compensation for loss
of practice as in the circumstances might seem just. It also gave power to the Council
to aid the training of midwives and to make grants for the purpose.
The Act of 1926 amends the provisions of the Act of 1902 with regard to the
practice of midwifery by uncertified persons, either male or female. It also repeals
the discretionary powers conferred upon local supervising authorities in respect of
compensation for loss of practice to any midwife suspended from practice to prevent
the spread of infection, and entitles her to recover such amount as is reasonable
in the circumstances of the case unless she herself had been in default. The Act
confers upon local supervising authorities power, subject to the sanction of the
Minister of Health, to make arrangements with pregnant women in their respective
areas for the payment of agreed sums, in instalments or otherwise, to cover liability
in respect of the fees of medical practitioners called in under the provisions of section
14 of the Act of 1918.