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(4) Maternity and Nursing Homes.—As recorded in last year's
annual report the Ealing Town Council, under Section 9 (2) of the
Nursing Homes Registration Act, made application to the Middlesex
County Council to delegate their powers to the Ealing Town Council
under this Act. As this application was not acceded to, a Representation
was made in conjunction with other district councils in
the County to the Minister of Health to direct the Middlesex County
Council to delegate to the Ealing Town Council the powers and
duties under the Act and at the same time requesting him to
designate the Ealing Town Council as the Supervising Authority
under the Midwives Act, as provided for in the Local Government
Act, 1929.
As a result of this Representation the Minister of Health has
recently informed the Town Council that he is proceeding to make
the necessary Order under Section 62 of the Local Government Act
1929, directing that the Ealing Town Council shall become the Local
Supervising Authority under the Midwives Act, 1902 and 1923,
for the Borough in place of the County Council and that he has
given a direction to the County Council to delegate to the Town
Council from the 1st October, 1930, their powers under the Nursing
Homes Registration Act, 1927. Through the powers contained in
this Act the Town Council will be able to secure complete coordination
of all work of maternity and child welfare in the district
and to have a certain amount of supervisory control over nursing
homes, where a large number of births take place.
(5) Maternal Mortality.—As stated in the previous report, all
maternal deaths are investigated by the Assistant Medical Officer
for maternity and child welfare purposes. The Town Council are
rendering whatever assistance they can in the efforts to reduce
maternal mortality. They have established ante-natal clinics and
they have supported the establishment of the Maternity Hospital,
both of which have as their aim the reduction of maternal and
infant deaths; and their application to be made the Supervising
Authority under the Midwives Acts and to have the supervision of
Nursing Homes under their control has been made with the same
object in view.