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ante-natal). The type of case which may be accommodated in each room is fixed,
but rooms are not necessarily registered for one type of case only. Keepers are required
to make satisfactory provision for the accommodation of staff.
An isolation room is required in all maternity homes where two or more beds
are provided in any one room. In surgical homes an isolation room is not required,
but keepers must inform the Council as to the arrangement to be made in the event
of a septic case arising in a room containing two or more beds. The provision of
an operating theatre is not insisted upon in homes existing at the time the Act came
into operation, where such did not exist, but a theatre is required in all new homes
registered for surgical cases.
The use for other purposes of rooms registered for patients is deprecated and
the prior approval of the Council is required for any such use.
Staffing.—No hard and fast rule is laid down as to the number of trained and
untrained staff required. This will depend on the type or types and number of
patients. Each case is considered on its merits, but in the ordinary mixed home, as a
general rule, two day nurses and one night nurse are required for every six patients.
A night nurse is always required when four or more patients are in the home or when
any patient is acutely ill. Every endeavour is made to persuade keepers to employ
the largest practicable number of trained staff. When the keeper of a maternity
home is a midwife and has a district practice, satisfactory arrangements must be made
for the care of patients during her absence on district work. Domestic staff must
be employed in numbers adequate to the work to be done.
Furniture and Equipment.—A minimum standard of equipment is laid down.
The amount of furniture and equipment required depends to some extent on the
type of home.
Fire requirements.—Homes are inspected by officers of the architect's department
and of the Fire Brigade and the necessary requirements are made to ensure the
safety of the occupants of the premises.
Inspection.—Premises are inspected by officers of the Council upon application
for registration and as occasion requires after registration. The periods between
such inspections vary generally from two weeks to nine months or even a year in
the cases of very good homes.
The work of inspecting the homes was divided among seven medical inspectors,
who devoted altogether about twelve half-days a week to the work. Other inspections
were made by sanitary inspectors and members of the staffs of the Council's
architect and of the Fire Brigade.
Administration.—Detailed reports on each application are submitted to the
Public Health Committee and a considerable number of letters are sent to registered
keepers concerning matters requiring attention.
During the year under review three applications for registration were refused
on the grounds (i) unsuitability of premises, (ii) unfitness of applicant and inadequate
staffing arrangements and (iii) inadequate staffing arrangements.
In 1930 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 were for a period due to expire on 30th June, 1931, after which
date the exemption may be renewed at the discretion of the Council from year to
year.
The homes have on the whole been satisfactory, and considerable improvement
in the general cleanliness and orderliness and in the staff of the homes has been
secured. There was, however, one serious complaint about the keeper of a nursing
home during the year. As ill-health was pleaded, he was permitted to surrender
his registration on giving an undertaking not to conduct a nursing home in London
again.
It is anticipated that improvement of the nursing homes will be maintained,