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the premises of 1,995 foster-mothers were subject to inspection. Power is given
to remove to a place of safety an infant found to be in the charge of a foster-mother
who is unfit to have the care of it or in premises which are overcrowded, dangerous
or insanitary. There is power also to exempt either partially or wholly premises
which are so conducted as to render ordinary inspection unnecessary. Particulars
of action taken in recent years are as follows :—
Year.
1921
1922
1923
1924
1925
1926
1927
1928
1929
Infants
removed from
foster-mothers.
20
14
6
7
3
4
4
5
18
Exemptions.
3
3
3*
4*
1*
1*
-
-
-
Deaths.
42
52
53
26
38
26
34
33
27
Infringements
discovered.
302
279
303
274
263
214
222
153
142
Cautions.
285
266
292
267
261
210
217
148
137
Prosecutions
26
13
11
7
2
4
5
5
5
Convictions
26
13
10
7
2
3
5
4
4
* Partial.
Nursing
homes.
The Nursing Homes Registration Act, 1927, provides that a nursing home,
viz., any premises used or intended to be used for the reception of, and the providing
of nursing for, persons suffering from any sickness, injury or infirmity, including a
maternity home, cannot be carried on unless it is registered in accordance with the
provisions of that Act.
The Act empowers the Council to refuse or cancel the Registration of any
premises as a nursing home on certain grounds and to exempt certain institutions
from the operation of the provisions of the Act.
The Council has made byelaws prescribing the records to be kept of patients
received into nursing homes and other matters, and requiring notification 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.
At the end of 1928, there were 199 registered nursing homes. During 1929
132 were added to the register, and 53 were removed therefrom, either at the request
of the registered keepers or for other reasons. During the year under review 3 applications
for registration were refused ; in 4 instances applicants for registration were,
prior to registration, asked to submit proposals for the provision of adequate means
of escape in case of fire at the premises ; and in 29 further cases applications for registration
were granted subject to qualified nurses being nominated to act as resident
superintendents of the nursing at the respective homes. These applications were
not, however, proceeded with.
118 applications for exemption in respect of hospitals or institutions not carried
on for profit were granted for the year ending 30th June, 1930, without prejudice
to the granting of further exemption.
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 were 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 were made payable by the Council (in accordance with a scale fixed by the
Local Government Board and amended by the Minister of Health) which has power