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Observations by the Chairman.
If the above estimates and allowances are accepted by the Committee, I would suggest that the
following alterations be made in respect of certain allowances now made to staff:—
(1) That for superannuation purposes the Council value the emoluments of nursing staff at
£104 per annum plus £8 per annum uniform allowance. (At present these emoluments are valued at
the Municipal Hospital at £60 per annum and at the Maternity Hospital at £60 per annum plus £8 per
annum uniform allowance).
(2) That the Council value the living-in emoluments of living-out nurses at £26 per annum plus
£8 per annum uniform allowance.
(3) That the Council value the cost of living out by living out nurses at £78 per annum.
(4) That the Council allow 20/- per week as a ration allowance to a living-in nurse on holiday.
{At present this allowance is 15/- per week.)
(5) That the Council allow 10/- per week as a ration allowance to a living-out nurse on holiday.
{At present the Council allow 10/- per week.)
Domestic Staff.
This matter is outside the terms of reference, but I think it is desirable that the Committee
should realise that alterations in the emoluments of nurses may reflect on the domestic staff. The
domestic staff while on duty receive the same emoluments as the living-out nurse while on duty. In
these circumstances I would suggest for the consideration of the Committee
(6) That the Council value the emoluments received by the domestic staff while on duty at 10/—
per week plus 1/8 per week uniform allowance. (The Council at the present time value this at 6/- per
week plus 1/8 per week uniform allowance.)
(7) That the Council allow 10/- per week as a ration allowance to domestic staff while on holiday.
(The Council at present allow 6/- per week.)
N. COWAN,
Chairman.
To be presented to the
Hospital Visiting Committee at its meeting on
Wednesday, 21st July, 1937.
P.S.—In the foregoing report no allowance has been made for any increase of salary to any grade of
nurse. (N.C.)
October 12 th, 1937.
APPENDIX P.
HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
Prevention of Blindness.
Circular of Ministry of Health, No. 1621.
Number of Blind Persons.
I was instructed at the last meeting of the Committee to endeavour to get information as
to the magnitude of this problem. The total number of registered blind persons in England on
March 31st, 1935, was 60,389. Strictly on the basis of population this would mean 323 such blind persons
in Willesden. The number of such blind persons in Willesden on the register kept by the Middlesex
Association for the Blind, a voluntary association appointed by the Middlesex County Council to
carry out their responsibilities under the Blind Persons Act, 1920, was at October, 1936, 201. These
persons are registered under the Blind Persons Act of 1920, for which the County Council is the local
authority. This Act does not authorise the provision of treatment to prevent a sighted person from
becoming blind. The benefits of the Act are limited to those who are already blind and refer principally
to the Welfare of the Blind, namely, "The provision and maintenance or contribution towards
the provision and maintenance of workshops, hostels, homes or other places for the reception of blind
persons."
The Model Scheme for the Prevention of Blindness.
Circular 1621 of the Ministry of Health refers to the importance of the prevention of blindness
and suggests that the Model Scheme prepared by the Standing Committee on the Prevention of