London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Hampstead 1919
Report for the year 1919 of the Medical Officer of Health
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74
It would be idle to contend that the position of the Borough in
the Infant Mortality table is a satisfactory one. We were for years
at the head of the table, and at one time achieved an infant mortality
rate as low as 62. For the last few years, however, Hampstead's
position has become progressively worse, and it has never stood so
low in the table.
In all other stages of life Hampstead maintains its position. The
rate of infant mortality is the only exception, and the fact that a baby
born in Hampstead has less chance of surviving to the age of one year
than if it were born either in Lewisham, Stoke Newington, Wandsworth.
Battersea, Stepney, or Chelsea, is a matter that calls for the
closest investigation and renewed effort.
The following are the infantile death-rate per 1000 births for each of the Wards, the Borough, London, and England and Wales:—
| WARD. | Rate per 1.000 births. |
|---|---|
| No. 1 (Town) | 87 |
| No. 2 (Belsize) | 102 |
| No. 3 (Adelaide) | 103 |
| No. 4 (Central) | 49 |
| No. 5 (West End) | 68 |
| No. 6 (Kilburn) | 81 |
| No. 7 (Priory) | 84 |
| London | 85 |
| England and Wales | 89 - |
In considering these ward-rates the smallness of the figures concerned must be borne in mind, thus the actual number of infant deaths were as follows:—
| Town Ward | 13 |
| Belsize ,, | 20 |
| Adelaide „ | 10 |
| Central „ | 5 |
| West End „ | 12 |
| Kilburn „ | 24 |
| Priory „ | 12 |