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DEATHS IN INSTITUTIONS.
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VIII. DEATHS IN INSTITUTIONS.
Of the 1,743 deaths registered within the Borough, 850 (48.7 per cent.) occurred in public institutions,
285 of those deaths belonging to other districts. During 1918-22 (the Poor Law Infirmary was
not receiving civilian patients in 1918 and 1919) the deaths in local institutions averaged 704 a year,
39.6 per cent. of the deaths registered locally, the average of non-residents in those institutions
being 283. In addition 64 deaths took place in nursing homes last year, 26 of the deceased persons
being non-residents. The annual average (1918-22) of deaths in nursing homes was 63, including 35 of
non-residents. The deaths of 222 residents of the Borough in out-lying public institutions were
reported during the past year, as compared with an annual average (1918-22) of 397, but it should
be noted that during 1918 and 1919 many Poor Law patients were received by St. Marylebone owing
to the use of the local infirmary for military purposes. There were also 34 deaths in nursing homes
in out-lying areas during 1923.
The corrected number of deaths of residents in public institutions during the past year was
787, or 45.7 per cent. of the total deaths. Of the deaths of males, 47.8 per cent. occurred in institutions,
and of those of females, 43.7. The percentages for 1918-22 were: Persons, 43.0; males, 45.6;
females, 40.5.
The percentages of deaths in the Wards which took place in institutions were (the averages for
1918-22 being given in parentheses)—Queen's Park, 49.1 (45.2); Harrow Road, 49.2 (45.2); Maida
Vale, 37.8 (35.6); Westbourne, 44.1 (42.8); Church, 60.7 (54.6); Lancaster Gate, West, 24.7
(24.2); East, 16.0 (29.5); Hyde Park, 52.8 (40.2). The only significant changes were the fall in
Lancaster Gate, East, and the increase in Hyde Park.
Of the total deaths in institutions during 1923 1.5 per cent. took place in Hospitals of the M.A.B.,
29.2 in Poor Law Institutions, 4.3 in Lunatic Asylums, and 19.6 in Voluntary Hospitals, including
2.5 in hospitals for special diseases. The corresponding mean percentages for 1918-22 were: M.A.B.,
1.9; Poor Law, 25.2; Lunatic Asylums, 3.9; Voluntary Hospitals, 11.6 (including 2.5 in Special
Hospitals). The deaths in rate-maintained institutions were 35.0 per cent. of all deaths, those in
institutions maintained by voluntary effort 10.6, while the percentages for 1918-22 (same order)
were: 31.0 and 11.6.
IX. STATISTICS OF CHILDHOOD (0-5 Years).
Mortality at Ages 0-1 Year.—(Tables 1, 2 and 13)—Among the 1,743 deaths registered
last year within the Borough were 207 of infants under the age of one year, equivalent to an infant
mortality rate of 86 per 1,000 births registered locally (2,410). The mean rate for 1918-22 (obtained
in a similar manner) was 106, that rate having been much reduced by the low figure (87) for 1920.
Full correction for the large number of births belonging to the Borough which take place in outlying
districts cannot be made until after the end of the year, hence the rates for the four quarters
of the year are only partially corrected, i.e., deaths of non-resident infants have been excluded, and
those of residents in out-lying districts included, but not the births. The partially corrected rate
for the year was 74 per 1,000 births, as compared with a mean (1918-22) of 98. The rate for the
first quarter was 96, for the second 63, for the third 45 and for the fourth 91. Attention should be
specially called to the fact that the rate for the third quarter was the lowest for the year. In the past
that quarter's rate used to be the highest. The mean rates for the preceding quinquennium were :
1st quarter, 114; 2nd, 88; 3rd, 88 ; and 4th, 100.
The fully corrected rate for the year was 69, as compared with a mean of 87 for the years 1918-22.
The rate for males was 81 (mean 99), and that for females 56 (mean 75). In comparison with their
respective means the rates recorded last year show the following approximate percentage reductions :
Males, 19; females, 28; persons, 23. The subjoined tabular statement of the Index Numbers, read
in conjunction with the annual rates given in Table 2, shows clearly the changes in the rates
recorded in each of the Wards.