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44
The number of nursing homes on the register on 1st January, 1932, was 258.
During the year 1932, 13 homes were added, of which 5 had applied during 1931,
and 31 were removed on cancellation of the registration, leaving 240 on the register
on 31st December, 1932. All cancellations were made at the request of the persons
registered and/or upon change of ownership. There were 25 applications for
registration during the year, of which, at the end of the year, 7 had been withdrawn
and 8 granted, 10 being still under consideration.
The general considerations taken into account by the Council in administering
the Act are fully described in the Annual Report for 1930 (Vol. Ill (Part I), pp. 53-54).
In 1932 the Council granted 114 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, 1933, 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 satisfactorily conducted. The improvement
noted in the report for 1931 in the cleanliness, general orderliness and in the staff
of homes has continued. Owing, however, to financial stringency there has been
a tendency to delay necessary re-decoration, and in several cases the attention of
keepers has been directed to this matter with satisfactory results.
A number of the older homes have closed or have changed ownership. In the
latter event the new owners were required to fulfil all the requirements for a " new "
home.
Maternity
and childwelfare
work
by voluntary
associations-
Under the Maternity and Child Welfare Contributions (London) schemes made
by the Minister of Health under section 101 (6) of the Local Government Act, 1929,
and continuing in force from 1st April, 1930, to 31st March, 1933, subject to any
alteration which may be made by the Minister of Health under section 131 (2) of
that Act, the Council is responsible for the payment of grants to 54 maternity and
child-welfare associations. Similar grants are payable by the various metropolitan
borough councils to other child-welfare associations in their boroughs. The money
for these grants is contained in the block grant payable by the Ministry of Health
to the councils concerned. The amount payable by the Council in the financial year
1932-33 was £31,263. These grants are only payable on the conditions (inter alia) :—
(i) That the Council is satisfied as to the efficiency of the maternity and
child-welfare service provided by the association in respect of which the contribution
is payable, and that such service is being used by a reasonable number
of those persons for whom it is provided ;
(ii) That no reduction or alteration of such service is made without the
consent of the Council.
It is necessary therefore that these associations should be inspected from time to
time by the Council's officers. This work is carried out by the medical staff employed
on work under the Nursing Homes Registration Act, while occasionally it also involves
the employment of a sanitary inspector, who is detailed by the chief inspector from
amongst his staff.
In the course of the year one mother and baby home was closed for financial
reasons, and one baby home was closed on account of expiration of lease. The
patients remaining at the time of the closing of these homes were transferred to other
homes.
An increase in the amount of the grant to one mother and baby home was
sanctioned by the Minister of Health.
The Council, at the request of the Minister of Health (Circular 1271) considered
the question of the voluntary associations conducting maternity and child welfare
services in London, which the Minister should be advised to include in a new scheme
to be prepared by him under section 101 (6) of the Local Government Act, 1929,
with effect for four years as from April, 1933, and the amount of annual contribution
to be paid to each association.