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6
Blind persons
During the year, 1,420 applicants for registration or training under the
provisions of the Blind Persons Acts, 1920 and 1938, were examined by the Council's
ophthalmologists. Of these, 879 (377 male and 502 female) were certified as
blind, and 541 (204 male and 337 female) were found not to be blind.
In addition, 57 certificates (21 male and 36 female) from voluntary hospitals,
outside authorities or private ophthalmologists were accepted as evidence of blindness,
and one (female) as not evidence of blindness.
Forty-five blind persons were examined as to suitability for training and 36 (24
male and 12 female) were found suitable.
Midwives Acts, 1902 to 1936, nursing homes registration and maternity and child
welfare contribution schemes to voluntary oraanisations
Domiciliary
midwifery
service—
London
County
Council
midwives
The gradual increase in the number of confinements undertaken by domiciliary
midwives employed by the Council since the inception of the service on 1st January,
1938, became more marked at the beginning of the war. The weekly average
number of confinements of 88 during the first eight months of 1939 rose to 133
weekly for the period 3rd September, 1939, to 31st December, 1939. The average
weekly number of confinements throughout 1940 up to the time of the intensification
of air raids on London on 7th September, 1940, was 166. Thereafter, the number fell
rapidly until in November and December, 1940, a weekly average of 43 confinements
was dealt with. Confinements undertaken in 1939 and 1940 were:—
1939 1940
Midwifery patients 4,803 6,396
Maternity nursing patients 535 552
Total 5,338 6,948
The highest number of domiciliary midwives employed was 137 on 7th August,
1940. At the end of the year there were 91 midwives on the books, of whom 23
were lent to the reception areas to assist with evacuated expectant mothers.
Domiciliary
midwifery
service—
voluntary
organisations
The number of confinements undertaken each year by voluntary organisations,
with whom the Council has agreements under the domiciliary midwifery scheme,
has remained at the same level. There was a very great decrease in the confinements
dealt with after September, 1940, and, but for this, the figures for the year would have
been considerably higher than those for 1938 and 1939. The average weekly number
of confinements fell from 192 for the period 1st January to 7th September, 1940, to
53 for the months of November and December, 1940.
The total number of district confinements dealt with in the last three years by
the voluntary hospitals and district nursing associations were:—
1938 1939 1940
Midwifery patients 6,642 6,776 6,596
Maternity nursing patients 857 616 594
Total 7,499 7,392 7,190
The agreements entered into with the 15 voluntary hospitals and the 19
district nursing associations were reviewed and the payments considerably increased.
At the same time the fees charged to patients booked as from and including 1st
November. 1940. were also increased.
Payment of
medical fees
Fees paid under the Midwives Act, 1918, to medical practitioners called in
by midwives in emergencies amounted to £6,562, compared with £5,348 in 1939.
Claims for fees were 5,110 in 1940, compared with 3,985 in the previous year.
Registration
of nursing
homes
There were 126 nursing homes on the register at the end of the year, compared
with 144 at the end of 1939.