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The following is a summary of the visits paid by the Health
Visitors during 1929 as far as the Maternity and Child Welfare
work is concerned:—
First visits to newly-born infants 1,909
Subsequent visits to children under 1 year of age 5,271
Subsequent visits to children over 1 year of age and
under 5 11,167
Visits to expectant mothers 243
Home visits for other reasons 924
Total visits paid 19,514
Supervision of Midwives.
There are 9 certified midwives resident and practising in the
district (apart from those at the Maternity Home), and 6 certified
midwives resident outside Ilford, but practising in Ilford.
Under the Midwives' Act, 1918, Section 12, permission is
withheld for delegation to a District Council of the powers of the
County Council as supervising Authority, although there is no
doubt that such work can be carried out as efficiently and economically
by the local Public Health Department.
Under the Local Government Act, Section 62, the Council of
any district having established a Maternity and Child Welfare
Committee may apply to the Minister of Health to be made the
Local Supervising Authority under the Midwives Act, 1902 to 1926,
and the Minister if he is satisfied that the district council are in a
position to discharge the whole of the functions of a local supervising
authority, may by order direct that the council shall become the
local supervising authority for the district in place of the county
council, and provide for the manner in which the expenses of the
district council and the county council are to be defrayed. Before
making an order under this subsection the Minister shall consult
with the county Council, and shall if requested by them hold a local
enquiry.