View report page

22
In the case of one of the deaths enumerated under (b) (2)
above the foster-mother failed to give notice to the Coroner as
required by Section 213 of the Public Health Act, 1936. This
offence was reported to the Public Health Committee, which decided
that a strong letter of warning be sent to the foster-parent.
(iv) Legal Adoption.
The practice of legal adoption is growing in this area, and this
Department is willing on request to give any information to a
Society as to the suitability, or otherwise, of environmental conditions
to which the child will be subject. Opportunity is also
taken by the Department of scrutinising the Certificates of Adoption,
so as to check any tendency to evasion of requirements in
connection with Child Life Protection.
Before a child is legally adopted, parents should clearly understand
their responsibility, and one cannot but view with concern
the growth of this practice in recent years.
(v) Midwives Act, 1936.
This year, we are able to show the results of a complete
twelve months' working of the Act, and the following gives a
summary of the cases attended by the Council Midwives, as Midwives,
and as Maternity Nurses.
As Midwives 224
As Maternity Nurses 58
Under the requirements of Section 7 of the Act, which relates
to the necessity for Post-Certificate Training, the Essex County
Council made arrangements for two of the Midwives to attend a
Course of one month's duration at the General Lying-in Hospital,
York Road, Lambeth. The other two Midwives will have an
opportunity of taking this course at a later date.
(vi) Emergency Unit for Midwifery.
On the appointment of Mr. S. Henderson as Full-Time
Obstetrician at Oldchurch County Hospital, arrangements were
made for utilisation of his services in connection with an Emergency
Unit, or "Flying Squad," to attend to complications arising
in the course of a confinement where the circumstances would be
such that the mother could not with safety be removed to Hospital.
On the inauguration of the service the practitioners in the District
were notified accordingly, and it was pointed out that this Council
would be financially responsible for such cases as might arise in
Romford. The fee agreed was £3 3s. per visit, to be recovered
from those concerned according to the scale of the Council.