View report page

4
Infant Mortality—There were 65 deaths of infants under
twelve months of age, giving an infant mortality-rate of 63.35* per
1,000 births. This may be compared with a rate for the previous
five years (1936-40) of 57.9. The deaths of illegitimate infants
numbered 6, giving an illegitimate infant death rate of 77.23.
Maternity and Child Welfare.
The activities of the Council under this heading were continued
during 1941 with only a few variations noted below.
Grants.—No variation was made in the grants which the
Council were accustomed to pay to various bodies carrying on
work ancillary to the scheme for maternity and child welfare.
Infant Welfare Centres—718 sessions, 19,763 attendances.
Ante-Natal Clinics.—182 sessions, 2,029 attendances.
Mothercraft Classes.—293 meetings, 3,579 attendances.
Dental Clinic.—Following the destruction of the Dental Clinic
by enemy action, arrangements were made with the London County
Council for dental treatment to be carried out at St. James's
Hospital, this service commencing in March, 1941. By the end of
the year 180 mothers and 73 children were referred to the clinic,
and of these 55 mothers and 39 children had attended.
Hospitals.—437 cases were referred to hospitals, etc., from
the Welfare Centres, and 2,547 visits were paid at the request of
various hospitals.
Milk—The Government scheme for the supply of milk at
cheap rates to expectant and nursing mothers and children under
5 years of age continued in force during the year.
Dinners.—Women and children were still sent for dinners to
the dining rooms of the Women's League of Service at Southlands.
The Invalid Kitchens Association, whose premises in
Henley Street were closed down in April, 1940, resumed their
activities during the year from a kitchen established in Balham,
the dinners being delivered at the home of the patient.
Maternal Mortality.—2 deaths (1 from puerperal sepsis and
1 from other puerperal causes), giving a maternal mortality rate
of 1.88 per 1,000 births, live and still.
Unmarried Mothers.—The usual grant of £150 was made to
the Southwark Diocesan Association. 7 Battersea mothers were
admitted to their Homes and stayed for 452 days.
Home Helps.—1 case. Cost to Council, £3 17s. 8d.
St. Thomas's Babies Hostel.—Transferred to Wiltshire on
the outbreak of War, and remained there during 1941. Mrs.
Alderman Bowler was re-appointed to represent the Council on a
Committee formed to promote the revival of the hostel's activities.
Work done.—In-patients 14 (6 mothers, 8 babies), total stay 724
days. The annual grant of £400 per annum was continued by the
Council.
*This figure is, by direction of the Registrar-General, based on a
total of 1,026 births.