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856 cases, 178 proved to be ophthalmia neonatorum (1 per cent. of the 17,850
patients attended by midwives), compared with 144 in 1937; 334 other cases that
did not occur in midwives' practices were also notified, making a total of 512 cases
during the year, the percentage occurring in the practice of midwives being 34.77
per cent. of all cases of ophthalmia neonatorum, compared with 31.42 per cent. in
1937.
All the midwives' cases were investigated, and it was found that 165 were
completely cured; one child was found to be still under treatment at the end of
the year; eight children had removed from London and the condition of the eyes
after completion of treatment has not been ascertained; in one child the vision of
the left eye was found to be impaired; three children died from causes other than
opthalmia. Thirty-eight became in-patients at St. Margaret's Hospital, compared
with 29 during 1937. There was no case of bhndness.
Pemphigus
neonatorum
During the year 59 cases of pemphigus neonatorum occurred in the practice of
midwives, compared with 44 during the previous 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 and the Minister
of Health has laid down a scale of fees to which local authorities must adhere. The
Council decided that, from 1st January, 1938, it would forego its claim on patients
for reimbursement of the medical fee.
Claims for fees accepted during the year numbered 3,189, compared with 2,641
in 1937, the total amount involved being £3,700, compared with £3,242 in
1937. The Midwives Act, 1926, fixed a period of two months from the date of the
first visit, within which a medical practitioner must submit his claim. In pursuance
of this provision, 39 claims amounting to £48 7s. 6d. were disallowed during 1938.
Registration
of nursing
homes
The provisions with regard to the registration ot nursing homes in London are
contained in Part XI of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936, which repealed,
inter alia, the Nursing Homes Registration Act, 1927, so far as London was concerned.
The number of nursing homes on the register on 1st January, 1938, was 170.
During the year five homes were added, of which one had applied during 1937, while
18 were removed on cancellation of the registration, leaving 157 on the register on
31st December, 1938. In 15 cases cancellations were made at the request of the
persons registered and/or upon change of ownership. The remaining cancellations
were made by order of the appropriate committee, or on vacation of premises.
During the year proceedings were instituted against two persons for conducting
premises as a nursing home without being duly registered in respect thereof. Both
cases were dismissed, but one defendant was ordered to pay two guineas and the
other ten guineas costs.
There were 12 applications for registration during the year, of which, at the end
of the year, four had been withdrawn, four granted, and three were still under
consideration. One application was superseded by an application for exemption,
which was granted.
In 1938 the Council granted 109 exemptions from the provisions of Part XI of
the Public Health (London) Act, 1936, in respect of premises not conducted for profit.
These exemptions were for a period due to expire on 30th June, 1939; the exemption
may be renewed at the discretion of the Council from year to year.
Midwifery in
registered
nursing
homes