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34
We have for some time been at the stage when,
with the premises at our disposal, no substantial
further increase of activity is possible. That such
further work is necessary, notwithstanding the fall in
the Birth rate, is amply shown by our records with
regard to Toddlers and by the fact that despite our
relatively favourable experience of maternal mortality
much still remains to be done for ante-natal and
post-natal care. At the end of the year, the Public
Health Committee requested me to report on the
position of the Maternity and Child Welfare Services
of the Council. The result of this consideration of the
matter will doubtless appear in my next report.
NOTIFICATION OF BIRTHS ACTS,
1907 AND 1915.
During the year, 995 live births were registered
in the Borough; and 975 live births were notified to
the Medical Officer of Health. There were also 29
stillbirths notified. Of the 1,004 living and stillbirths
notified, 37 were found to relate to other districts and
were duly transferred, 755 were notified by midwives,
136 by maternity assistants of the London Hospital,
53 by medical practitioners, and 23 by parents and
others.
Through the courtesy of neighbouring Medical
Officers of Health I also received copies of notifications
of births of Bethnal Green babies which took place
outside the Borough, information as to 522 live babies
and 19 stillbirths being received in this way.
The nett total of notified live births belonging to
the borough was thus 1,460.
WORK OF HEALTH VISITORS.
The following table gives some account of the outdoor
work of the Health Visitors so far as this can be
expressed in statistics:—