37. It will be seen that certain of your Committee's recommendations are not in agreement with the provisions of the Midwives and Maternity Bill as now under the consideration of Parliament. Your Committee consider, however, that any further legislation that may be founded on their inquiry could be so framed as to extend, and where necessary to amend, the provisions of the earlier legislation. In conclusion, your Committee desire to emphasise their opinion that all nursing homes, including that specialised class Maternity Homes," can only be properly dealt with under one comprehensive scheme. SUMMARY OF GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS. 38. Although many important matters of general consideration arise from the evidence your Committee have heard, some are of such a nature that they cannot be formulated as clear-cut decisions. As an instance of this your Committee would recommend that, subject to the provisional exemption by the supervising authority of existing homes at present controlled and staffed by unqualified persons from fulfilling the following condition, and to possible exemptions in special circumstances, it should normally be a condition precedent to registration that the matron or other person in charge of the nursing in any registered nursing home be a fully qualified nurse; and that, if and when, nursing becomes a more popular and better paid profession, the extension of this condition to a certain proportion of the staff employed in the home will also become desirable. On the other hand, certain clear-cut issues can be formulated, and your Committee make the following recommendations: (i) That legislation to give effect to a scheme of registration and inspection of nursing homes should be introduced at an early date. (ii) That the supervising authorities should be county councils and county borough councils. (iii) That supervising authorities may well be empowered to delegate their powers to a Committee upon which both doctors and nurses shall have some representation. (iv) That the duties of inspection shall be carried out by medical officers of health with the assistance of other technical officers. (v) That inspection shall be limited to the general suitability and organisation of the home, and shall not embrace any inquiry into the medical records or private affairs of the patients. (vi) That the definition of the term " Nursing Home" shall be made wide enough to include all types of nursing homes including maternity homes. (vii) That certain publicly controlled institutions shall be expressly excluded from the scheme. (viii) That supervising authorities may exempt certain charitable organisations for defined periods of time. (ix) That a nursing home shall not be exempt on the sole grounds that there is a medical practitioner resident in or in actual control of a home. (x) That appeals against the refusal or cancellation of registration may be made to a referee appointed by the Minister of Health. (xi) That, in spite of existing legislation in regard to maternity homes, all nursing homes including maternity homes, shall be brought under one comprehensive scheme. Mr. L. G. BROCK, C.B., a Principal Assistant Secretary, Ministry of Health and Mr. M. L. GWYER, C.B., Legal Adviser, Ministry of Health, were examined. Dr. J. W. BONE, Dr. E. ROWLAND FOTHERGILL and Dr. C. COURTENAY LORD, Assistant Medical Secretary British Medical Association, on behalf of the British Medical Association, were examined. Miss MARY S. RUNDLE, R.R.C., D.N., Secretary, the College of Nursing Ltd., was examined. [Adjourned till Thursday, 15th April. Mr. C. W. J. TENNANT, District Manager of the Christian Science Committees on Publication for Great Britain and Ireland, was examined. [Adjourned till Tuesday next. The Rev. S. K. ANDERSON and Miss CARDROSS GRANT, were examined. Miss K. STEPHENSON, Chairman of the Public Health Committee, Wiltshire County Council etc., was examined. Miss K. SCOTT, Matron, Nursing Home, and Miss C. C. CROOKENDEN, Owner, Nursing Home, were examined. Mrs. F. POTTS, Chairman, Birmingham Hostel for Unmarried Mothers and Babies etc., was examined. Miss. B. was examined. Miss. X. was examined. 57082 [Adjourned till Tuesday next. a 4 |