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
Fulham 1938
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Fulham Borough]
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20
ILLEGITIMACY
The illegitimate live births numbered 137 (72 males and 65 females) during 1938, compared
with 135 for the previous year, and constituted 6-9 per cent. of the total live births.
DEATHS
During the year ended December 31st, 1938, 1,296 deaths were registered as having occurred
in the Borough. Of these, 203 were of persons not belonging to the Borough, while 509 inhabitants of
Fulham died outside the Borough, chiefly in public institutions. There were, therefore, 1,602 deaths
of persons, 878 males and 724 females, having their usual residence in Fulham, representing an annual
crude death rate of 11.6 per 1,000 of the population. This rate is 1.5 below that of the previous
year. The death rate for England and Wales was 11.6, and for London 11.4. The "Comparability
Factor " remains unchanged at 1.01, and the adjusted death rate is, therefore, 11.7.
CERTIFICATION OF CAUSES OF DEATH
Of the 1,602 deaths belonging to the Borough, 1,355 or 84.58 per cent., were certified by registered
medical practitioners; 113 or 7.06 per cent. by coroners after inquests; 133 or 8.30 per cent.
by coroners without inquests; and one death (0.06 per cent.) was uncertified. The uncertified
death was of a resident who died suddenly from angina pectoris while on business in the North of
England.
DEATHS IN PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS Of the deaths of Fulham persons 63.98 per cent. took place in Public Institutions. The distribution of these institutional deaths according to the type of institution was as follows:—
| Per Cent. | |
|---|---|
| 748 in London County Council Hospitals or Institutions | 72.98 |
| 30 in Infectious Disease Hospitals | 2.93 |
| 183 in other Hospitals | 17.85 |
| 64 in Mental Hospitals | 6.24 |
FULHAM HOSPITAL
In this institution belonging to the London County Council there were 653 deaths, of which
559 were of Fulham residents and 94 of persons residing in other districts.
WESTERN HOSPITAL
This hospital, the only London County Council Infectious Disease Hospital in the Borough,
had 115 deaths during the year, and of this number 19 were of Fulham residents, while the remaining
96 were of patients admitted from other districts.