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44
nursing homes with a view to obtaining detailed information as to the sanitary
conditions and general maintenance of the premises.
At the beginning of 1929 there were 199 registered nursing homes. During the
year 1929, 132 other homes have been registered and 53 registrations have been
cancelled at the request of the keepers of the homes. On 31st December, 1929.
there were 278 premises on the register of nursing homes.
During 1929 the Council granted 118 exemptions from the provisions of the
Nursing Homes Registration Act, 1927, in respect of premises not conducted for
profit. These exemptions are all for a period which will expire on 30th June, 1930,
after which the exemption may be renewed at the discretion of the Council from year
to year.
The improvement noted in the report for 1928 in the cleanliness, general orderliness
and in the staff of the homes has continued. It was found necessary to institute
legal proceedings against one keeper in respect of failure to exhibit the certificate
of registration in a conspicuous position, and also in respect of obstruction of the
Council's inspector in the execution of his duties under the Act. The Magistrate
found in favour of the Council and, on the defendant giving an undertaking to comply
with the law in future, dismissed the summonses under the Probation of Offenders
Act on payment of £5 5s. costs.
It was noted that a number of premises were being used for the accommodation
of certified mental patients. Such premises are under regular supervision by
officers of the Board of Control and, in order to avoid unnecessary dual inspections
of such premises, it was decided that, provided the premises used for the accommodation
of patients in "single care" were not used for the accommodation of any
other type of patient, it would be unnecessary for the owners of such premises to
make application for the registration of their houses as nursing homes. Arrangements
have been made to keep the Board of Control informed of all premises throughout
London which appear to be used for the accommodation of mental cases whether
certified or not.
It was stated in the report for 1928 that by-laws with respect to nursing homes
in the county of London had been prepared in accordance with model by-laws issued
by the Ministry of Health. The new by-laws were approved by the Minister of
Health on 1st March, 1929. Little difficulty has been experienced in securing compliance
with the by-laws throughout the county.
The annual report for the year 1921 indicated fully the powers of the Council
under the Children Act, 1908, Part I, with regard to infant life protection. Fourteen
qualified nurses carry out the work of inspection and act as visitors under the Act.
Further inquiries with regard to unnotified keeping of nurse infants and other
irregularities are made by male inspectors attached to the department. At the end
of 1929 there were 1,908 homes under inspection, the number of nurse infants therein
being 2,690.
Nurse infants who are kept under unsatisfactory conditions, which fall within
the purview of section 5 of the Act, may be removed to a place of safety. In
London, poor law institutions are used for this purpose. During 1929 it was
necessary to remove 18 nurse infants compared with 5 in 1928. Four children were
removed from one foster-mother and 7 from another. The Act permits local
authorities to grant total or partial exemption from inspection where circumstances
appear to warrant such a course, but no application for exemption was made during
1929.
The homes where nurse infants are kept are visited in order to ascertain whether
the sanitary condition of the premises is satisfactory: 761 reports were made
during 1929 compared with 804 in 1928. In 462 cases the premises were found to
be satisfactory compared with 491 in 1928. In 102 homes sanitary defects were
discovered compared with 113 in 1928, while overcrowding was found in 100 homes
Children Act,
1908.