The powers of County Councils[C] and Sanitary Authorities--_i.e._,
County Borough and Borough Councils, Urban and Rural District
Councils--for maternity and infancy work are derived from the following
Acts:
1. Public Health Acts, 1875-1907. 2. Midwives Act, 1902.
3. Notification of Births Acts, 1907-1915.[C]
4. The Milk and Dairies (Consolidation) Act, 1915. (This Act will not
come into force till after the war.)
The following Maternity and Infancy work (with the exception of the
supervision of midwives) may be carried out by special Maternity
Sub-Committees (which must include women) of the above authorities:--
_Notification of Births._[C]
Every birth has to be notified in every area to the Medical Officer
of Health for that area by the father of the child or the medical
practitioner or midwife within thirty-six hours of the birth.
_Women Sanitary Inspectors and Health Visitors._
Properly trained and qualified women may be appointed to visit the
homes and give advice on the care of mothers and infants.
[C] See summary of the Notification of Births (Extension) Act, 1915,
on p. 198.
_Maternity Centres._
Skilled advice and minor treatment for the preservation of health may
be given at Maternity Centres to expectant and nursing mothers and
children up to school age.
_Supervision of Midwives._
County Councils and County Borough Councils alone carry out the
supervision of midwives, through the Medical Officer of Health, who
almost invariably has under him a fully qualified woman.
_Professional Attendance at Confinements._
A doctor or midwife may be provided to attend necessitous cases. The
fee of a doctor called in under the Midwives Act may be paid.
_Maternity Hospitals for Complicated Cases and Infant Hospitals._
Hospitals may be maintained or beds paid for in existing hospitals or
wards.
_Milk Depots._
After the war, depots may be set up by Sanitary Authorities (only) for
the sale of milk for infants at cost price. (The Government grant is
not available for these depots.)