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26
compensation for those midwives who are not appointed as
full time employees, and who therefore may wish to surrender
their Certificates. The Council decided to take advantage of
section 62 of the Local Government Act, 1929, and make application
to the Ministry of Health to become the Local Supervising
Authority under the Midwives Acts. This application
has now been approved so that the Borough Council becomes
responsible for the supervision of all midwives practising in
the area and for the provision of a domiciliary service of
salaried midwives in compliance with the 1936 Act. At the
same time the Middlesex County Council delegated to the
Borough Council its powers and duties under the Nursing
Homes Registration Act of 1927. Under this Act the Borough
Council is now responsible for the registration and supervision
of all Nursing Homes in its area.
A gratifying feature of the year's working was the steady
increase of women taking advantage of the facilities which
are provided for Ante-natal supervision.
VOLUNTARY WORKERS.
As in previous years a number of ladies have assisted in a
voluntary capacity at the Child Welfare sessions and their
valuable services have contributed materially towards the
smooth running and efficiency of this service and without their
aid it would have been quite impossible to cope with the numbers
attending at many of the sessions.
The effect of ante-natal clinics on maternal mortality is
difficult to assess but I am convinced that there is much less
ill-health and misery during pregnancy when the advice and
simple remedies that can be given at the clinic are available.
In this connection the following table will no doubt be of
great interest: