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
Merton and Morden 1946
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Merton & Morden]
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populated areas where the pressure on maternity beds is
great. In spite of the inevitable occasional B.B.A. in such
circumstances the arrangements have made a valuable contribu
tion towards easing a very difficult situation. The high figure
of 257 births in other hospitals, institutions and nursing homes
bears witness to the extent to which arrangements have been
made outside the area in this and other ways.
Some figures which were prepared for a special conference
called during the year to deal with the problem of the shortage
of maternity beds are reproduced as they may be of wider
interest :•—
Comparison of Domiciliary and Institutional Births in 2 years prior to the war, 1938 and 1939 and in 1944, 1945 and 1946.
| Year | No. of Institutional | No. of Domiciliary | Total | Percentage of Institutional |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Births. | Births. | Births. | Births. | |
| 1938 | 560 | 457 | 1,017 | 55% |
| 1939 | 558 | 477 | 1,035 | 55% |
| 1944 | 778 | 399 | 1,177 | 67% |
| 1945 | 773 | 280 | 1,053 | 73% |
| 1946 | 923 | 369 | 1,292 | 71% |