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
Islington 1912
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Islington, Metropolitan Borough of]
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31
(1912
These figures contrast with the four preceding years as follows:—
| Births. | Notifications. | Failures to notify. | Per cent, notified. | Per cent, of Failures to notify | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1908 (From July 16th) | 3,967 | 3,211 | 756 | 80.9 | 19.1 |
| 1909 | 8,198 | 6,983 | 1,215 | 85.2 | 14.8 |
| 1910 | 8,201 | 7,407 | 794 | 90.3 | 9.7 |
| 1911 | 8,113 | 7,232 | 881 | 89.1 | 10.9 |
| 1912 | 8,211 | 7,238 | 973 | 88.1 | 11.9 |
During the last two years there has been a falling off in the percentage
of births that have been notified, and this has occurred mainly in the cases
attended by medical practitioners. No doubt, they relied on the parents,
on whom in the first instance the responsibility falls, to notify. In any case
those non-notifications are not so important as when there is no medical
practitioner in attendance.
An analysis of the returns shows that of the 7,238 notifications:—
1,059 were notified by medical practitioners
3,412 „ „ midwives.
2,767 „ „ parents and other persons.
These left a deficiency of 973, of which, in 63G cases, the mother was
attended by a doctor, in 43 the father was not at home within six hours of
the birth ; in 50 by a midwife, in 6 of which the father was not at home
within six hours; and in 15 cases by other persons. In 123 cases no information
could be obtained for the reasons stated below:—
Information refused.
Wrong address (no such house, a former address given
and present one not traceable.)
Many futile calls made.
Moved away since birth of child.
House empty.
Child's death before registration.
The notifications in preceding years by doctors, midwives and parents,
etc., are shown in the following statement:—