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Payment of
medical fees
9
Fees paid under the Midwives Act, 1918, to medical practitioners called in by
midwives in emergencies amounted to £6,032, compared with £3,344 in 1941.
Claims for fees were 4,748 in 1942, compared with 2,168 in 1941.
Registration
of nursing
homes
There were 106 nursing homes on the register at the end of the year, compared
with 109 at the end of 1941. These numbers include homes closed temporarily
owing to the war.
Maternity
and child
welfare
work by
voluntary
associations
Grants paid to voluntary maternity and child welfare organisations during
the year 1942 under Section 101 (6) of the Local Government Act, 1929, amounted
to £20,683 (with one amount still to be determined) compared with £23,494 in the
year 1941. Thirty-four associations were grant-aided during the year, of which
6 were maternity hospitals, 16 mother and baby homes, 5 baby homes and 7 district
midwifery practices. Of these 34 associations, 14 were functioning in London and
19 in the country. One was working in both London and the country.
Medical examination of staff
The number of references made to the department for medical examination or
advice concerning the health of staff and of members of the civil defence services was
15,467, compared with 15,101 in 1941. The total for 1942 includes nearly 500
recruits to the National Fire Service and 97 examinations of staff discharged on
medical grounds after service with H.M. Forces.
The sick parade at the Council's hospitals, referred to in my Interim Annual
Report for 1941, was continued for the civil defence services, and the numbers of
medical examinations made at sick parades are not included above. Only cases
of doubtful fitness for the civil defence services are referred to the Council's
examining medical officer for a decision.
In a few cases (at the request of provincial medical officers of health) I have
arranged for the medical examination of individuals from their areas staying in
London, and similarly some evacuated London staff have been medically examined
in the provinces. This reciprocation serves a useful purpose and is much appreciated.
Chemical branch
The work of the chemical branch was carried on during the year at the three
laboratories, the total number of samples examined being 20,588.
Central
laboratory
War conditions have had a considerable effect on the work entailing, for instance,
the examination of possible substitutes for materials in short supply : rubber goods
(waterproof sheeting and surgical tubing) are examples. Specifications for
compounded medicaments have been changed for similar reasons. In the case of
human foods, too, variations have had to be allowed, such as the alteration
in the specification for baking powder, admitting the use of the phosphatic
type in view of the shortage of tartrate supplies. The claims made by
manufacturers for some substitutes have been found not to be justified, instances
being a starch substitute and a fuel economiser. Among other work directly arising
from the war may be mentioned: (a) the analysis of meals as to their energy value
and content of protein and fat (this examination was in the first place undertaken
at the request of the chief officer, meals services, in regard to school meals and
later was extended to include British Restaurant meals; at the request of the
Ministry of Food the investigation was linked up with the scientific survey undertaken
by that Ministry on the subject, and the results were communicated for inclusion
in the Ministry's periodical reports); (b) the condition of emergency supplies of
drugs after considerable periods of storage, e.g., solutions for hypodermic injection;
(c) the scientific control of steam raising plants to effect economy of fuel; (d) the
manurial use of sewage products; (e) the examination of possible sources of
emergency water supplies.