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41
Mid wives.
Infringements
of
C.N1.B,
rales.
Midwives Acts, 1902 to 1926, Nursing Homes Registration Act, 1927,
and Children Act, 1908.
There are approximately 5,000 certified midwives with London addresses of
whom 828 gave notice of intention to practise within the county during the year,
compared with 854 in 1928, the remainder acting mostly as general or monthly
nurses under medical supervision. Practising midwives, other than those who
work entirely in voluntary or poor law hospitals under medical supervision, are
subject to inspection by the Council's officers with a view to ensuring that a proper
standard of efficiency is maintained. It may be noted that E.27 of the Rules of
the Central Midwives Board provides that the said Rules, other than 22 (2) shall
not apply to certified midwives exercising their calling in poor law institutions
"under the supervision of a duly appointed medical officer,"which is interpreted
by the Central Midwives Board as meaning" a resident medical officer." The
work of inspection is carried out by four women assistant medical officers who
supervise the work of the midwives generally, give advice in regard to any difficulties
that may arise in connection with their work and pay special visits where cases of
a septic nature or persistent high temperature, inflammation of the eyes or blisters
on the child occur : 2,285 visits were paid this year compared with 2,115 in 1928.
Ninety-five infringements of the Rules of the Central Midwives Board were
reported during the year, the same number as during 1928. Of these, 65 were
slight and a verbal caution was deemed to be sufficient; 31 cases of a more serious
nature were dealt with by a written caution, and 5 midwives were interviewed by the
Committee and personally cautioned. Three midwives were reported to the Central
Midwives Board. In one case the charges were not proved; in another case the
Board directed that special observation should be kept on the midwife and reports
submitted to the Board at the end oi periods of three, six, nine and twelve months.
This midwife's name was ultimately removed from the roll. In the third case the
Board asked for reports in three, six and nine months.
The Midwives Act, 1926, requires that in the case of midwives suspended
from practice in order to prevent the spread of infection the local supervising
authority must compensate such midwife for loss of practice by the payment of
such amount as is reasonable in the circumstances of the case, provided that the
midwife was not herself in default: 18 midwives were suspended from practice
during the year in order to prevent the spread of infection, and in 8 cases compensation
was authorised.
The Midwives and Maternity Homes Act, 1926, amended section 1 (2) of the
Midwives Act, 1902, so as to make it an offence for any uncertified person to attend
women in child-birth, except under the direction and personal supervision of a
registered medical practitioner, unless the case was one of sudden or urgent necessity.
During the year 16 enquiries were made into such cases, compared with 7 in 1928.
In 9 cases no further action was taken; in 6 a verbal or written caution was administered.
The remaining person was prosecuted and fined £10 or one month's
imprisonment for conducting a nursing home and £5 or 21 days' for acting as a
midwife.
The Births and Deaths Registration Act, 1926, requires that the birth of every
still-born child shall be registered by the registrar in a register of still-births, containing
the heads of information prescribed by the first schedule of that Act. During
the vear there were 413 still-births reported by midwives in their practice, compared
with 582 in 1923, 594 in 1924, 510 in 1925, 513 in 1926, 486 in 1927, and 473
in 1928. Of the cases reported this year, 230 were male and 180 female, while in
3 cases the sex was not stated: 217 were reported as macerated, 192 not macerated,
and in 4 the condition was not stated.
During the year 311 cases of puerperal fever were reported, compared with 294
in 1928. Of these cases 62 proved fatal, compared with 55 in 1928, a case mortality
Suspension
of midwives.
Uncertified
persons.
Still-births.
Puerperal
fever.