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60
APPENDIX.
Public Health Department,
Town Hall,
Paddington Green, W.2.
10 th April, 1933, and further amended 7th July, 1933.
To the Chairman and Members of the
Maternity and Child Welfare Committee.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have to report that during the fourth quarter of the year 1932, 485 births were registered as
belonging to Paddington. Of these, 269 occurred within the Borough and 216 in other districts. A
special inquiry was instituted with a view to ascertaining in each instance how long the parents had
been resident in the Borough before the birth of the child. Information was obtained with regard to
the parents of 457 children, leaving 28 cases in which the period of residence was doubtful. In the
following statement the 28 doubtful cases have been divided proportionately between the two groups:—
Group A
Group B
Length of residence.
. Under 1 year
Over 1 year
No. of Births.
149
336
485
Percentage of
total births.
30.7
69.3
100.0
During the same period, there were 59 deaths of children under the age of 1 year. In all cases
information was obtained as to the period of the parents' residence in Paddington, with the following
results, viz.:—
Group A
Group B
Length of residence.
Under 1 year
Over 1 year
No. of deaths.
29
30
59
Percentage of
total deaths.
49.1
50.9
100.0
The mortality rates calculated on the above figures are shown below:—
Group A
Group B
Length of residence.
Under 1 year
Over 1 year
Mortality rate per
1,000 births.
194
89
Combined groups 121*
*(the Registrar-General's figure is 119)
The foregoing figures make it evident that the excessive infantile mortality in Paddington is to
a great extent due to the migratory or floating population. This factor has an influence in other
Boroughs of London, but possibly in Paddington more than any other. For instance, the Medical
Officer of Health of Southwark informs me that only 11 per cent. of the births in his Borough are to
mothers who have resided less than one year in the Borough. This investigation has an important
bearing on work undertaken by the Council in combating infantile mortality. The major part of this
work is educational in nature, the health visitors in their home visiting and the visiting doctors at
the welfare centres all contributing their share. It appears that about one-third of the Paddington
mothers who have babies, if indeed they become known to the staff, are only under their educational
influence for a short time. The migrant type of family is frequently below the average economic
standard of life owing to unemployment and to the paying of excessive rent. The children are, in
consequence, often of poor physique and resist disease badly. Certainly the health visitors and doctors
cannot be blamed if their efforts in this direction do not meet with much success. The elucidation of
these facts serves to explain some of the high infantile mortality in Paddington and assists in absolving
the Council from any charge of neglecting their duties. It should, however, determine the Council
in a resolve to perfect its organisation for maternity and child welfare work and not to hesitate in the
wise spending of money in further developments. The plight of the children in these migrant families
must excite our sympathy, and so long as they live in Paddington it should be Paddington's concern
to do the best possible for them. This investigation has been made by Mr. Gower, the Chief Clerk,
and the health visitors. Owing to the labour involved it extended over a period of three months only,
but there is no reason to suppose that the results would differ very much if it had been extended over
a longer period. In my opinion the results are trustworthy and of social importance.
I am, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
G. E. OATES,
Medical Officer of Health.