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163
Notifications by midwives of intention to practise during the year 1928 numbered
822; of intention to practise for specific periods less than a year, 19; and of having
acted in specific cases, 13.
During the year 1927 the Council reported to the Central Midwives Board that
one prima facie case of malpractice, negligence or misconduct on the part of a certified
midwife had been established. The Board found certain of the charges to be proved
but postponed sentence with a view to further consideration on receipt of reports
from the Council as to the conduct and methods of practice of the midwife at the
end of three, six and nine months. As the result of these reports the Board removed
the name of the midwife from the Midwives' Roll.
During the year 1928 one prima facie case against a midwife was reported to
the Board, which found certain of the charges to be proved and censured the midwife
severely. In five other cases of infringements of the rules of the Board which did
not appear to be sufficiently serious to warrant submission to the Board, the
midwives were orally cautioned to observe strictly the rules of the Board in their
practice.
Owing to the difficulty of assessing the sums to be recovered from patients,
their husbands or other persons liable to maintain them in respect of the fees of
medical practitioners called in by midwives to the patients, the Council, in 1921,
adopted a scale of assessments graduated according to net income, after allowing
a deduction in respect of each maintainable child or other dependant. From 1st
April, 1928, to 31st March, 1929, the Council's expenditure under section 14 of the
Act of 1918 was approximately £4,250 the sums recovered during the same period
amounting to £996 approximately. During the year 1928 the Council suspended
15 midwives from practice for short periods to prevent the spread of infection, and
awarded compensation amounting to £49 8s. 6d.
An arrangement was made with Middlesex County Council whereby midwives
practising in Middlesex were enabled to attend courses of lectures and practical
demonstrations in ante-natal, post-natal and general midwifery, which were held
during the autumn and winter sessions, on the same terms as those practising in
London, any deficit on the course being shared by the two authorities on the basis
of user.
Under section 5 of the Act of 1902, as amended by section 2 of the Act of 1918,
any adverse balance in the accounts of the Central Midwives Board is apportioned
between the councils of the several counties and county boroughs in proportion to
population at the last census, and the Council's proportion for the year 1928 was
£488 10s. 5d.
In pursuance of instructions of the Council for the preparation of a report as
to the sanitary condition, number, distribution and adequacy of the public conveniences
for men and women in London, including the parks and open spaces,
and the hours during which they are available, information was obtained from the
authorities concerned, who also afforded facilities for any necessary inspections, and
the county medical officer prepared a comprehensive report on the subject.* In
the report some points and questions are raised as to matters requiring
consideration, but the survey shows that, speaking generally, and in spite of some
imperfections, a very satisfactory standard of sanitary provision has been attained.
The provision of public conveniences in London being primarily a matter for the
City Corporation and the metropolitan borough councils, their observations on the
report have been invited and the matter will be further considered when their
replies have been received.
Publie Conveniences.
Particulars are given in Chapter I, p. 31, of the result of the census of homeless
persons taken 'in February, 1928. The total numbers of homeless persons found
* Public conveniences in London. No. 2613. Price 2d.
Census of
homeless
persons.