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midwives' cases were investigated, and it was found that 325 were completely cured;
in 3 cases injury to the eyes resulted (2 of these cases died subsequently), 4
other cases died, and 1 could not be traced owing to the removal of the parents.
Thirty-six cases became in-patients at St. Margaret's hospital, compared with 51
during 1931.
Pemphigus
neonatorum.
During the year 59 cases of pemphigus neonatorum occurred in the practice of
midwives, compared with 99 during the previous year.
Instruction
of midwives.
As in past years, courses of demonstrations and lectures at convenient centres
were provided for the post graduate instruction of midwives practising in London,
Middlesex, Ealing, Edmonton, Tottenham and Willesden, the cost being shared by
the local supervising authorities in proportion to the numbers of their midwives
attending.
In April, 1930, the Central Midwives Board suggested that lectures to pupil
midwives on the Rules of the Central Midwives Board and the relationship of the
midwife to the various health authorities should be given by the medical officer of
health of the local supervising authority.
The Board approved the arrangements made by the Council for providing, at
suitable intervals, a course of two lectures by two of the Council's medical officers
particularly associated with the supervision of midwives. This course of lectures is
provided four times a year for the instruction of pupils before each examination
of the Central Midwives Board for candidates for admission to the Midwives Roll.
Pupil midwives in training at the Council's hospitals and other institutions in London
are admitted to the courses, the first of which was held in June, 1930, at the London
Day Training College. A certificate of the attendance of a pupil at the course is
signed by the Council's medical officer and furnished to the Central Midwives Board.
Pupils attending during the year 1932 numbered 770, compared with 700 in 1931.
Maternal
mortality.
The arrangement made at the suggestion of the Ministry of Health whereby
confidential reports are made on maternal deaths by medical officers of the Council
and are exchanged with the metropolitan borough medical officers of health as
described in the annual report for 1929, was continued during the year.
Payment of
medical fees.
The Midwives Act, 1918, imposed upon the Council the duty of paying
fees to medical practitioners called in by midwives in cases of emergency. The
patient is required to reimburse the Council according to her means. The Minister
of Health has laid down a scale of fees to which local authorities must adhere.
Claims accepted during the year numbered 3,528, compared with 4,038 in
1931, the total amount involved being £4,077 17s., compared with £4,521 Is. in
1931. The Midwives Act, 1926, fixed a limit of time, namely, two months from
the date of the first visit, within which a medical practitioner must submit his
claim. In pursuance of this provision, 58 claims amounting to £65 19s. were
refused during 1932.
Registration
of nursing
homes.
The Nursing Homes Registration Act, 1927, came into operation on 1st July,
1928, and repealed Part II of the Midwives and Maternity Homes Act, 1926, and also
so much of any local acts as provided for the registration of maternity homes. The
Annual Report for 1928 (Vol. Ill, pp. 53-54) indicates fully the powers of the Council
under the Act.
A nursing home is defined as "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 and includes a maternity home." The definition of a maternity
home is "any premises used or intended to be used for the reception of pregnant
women or of women immediately after childbirth." Consequently such premises
require registration as a maternity home even though the women go to some other
place for the actual confinement.