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58
At the close of the year attention was being given to a case
which occasioned considerable trouble before, finally, steps were
taken early in the New Year to obtain an Order from a magistrate
under Section 67 of the Act of 1932. The Order authorised the
removal of the child to the care of the Public Assistance Authorities.
The child concerned was illegitimate, the mother apparently being
only fifteen years of age and the fact that the relatives resided
at a considerable distance made it impossible to communicate
with them other than by letter. In the absence of regular payments,
a difficulty frequently encountered particularly in respect of
illegitimate children, the child went through the hands of four
foster-mothers in the Borough in less than three months. The
fourth woman had to go into hospital and in her absence the child
was temporarily cared for by a neighbour who could not be approved
as a suitable foster-mother. After a certain time of grace in which
unsuccessful attempts were made to get the relatives to find another
home for the child it became necessary to take action to secure the
child's removal.
ADMINISTRATION OF MID WIVES ACTS, 1902 to 1926.
From the 1st October, 1930, the Town Council has been the
local supervising authority under the Midwives Acts. During the
year under review the revised edition of the Rules of the Central
Midwives Board regulating, supervising and restricting within due
limits the practice of midwives, which came into force on the
1st October, was circulated to all midwives within the Borough.
During the year 54 midwives notified their intention to practise
within the Borough, this number including 15 midwives residing
outside the district. Of the 39 midwives residing in the Borough,
15 were engaged in private practice, 18 were engaged in nursing
homes (two of these also attending patients in their own homes),
and six were engaged at the Chiswick and Ealing Maternity Hospital.
All the midwives practising in the Borough possess the certificate
of the Central Midwives Board.
Number of births attended by midwives :
When acting in the capacity of midwife:
(а) In private Nursing Homes 35
(б) At the patient's home 550