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In the middle of the year damage to hospitals was becoming increasingly serious
and the threat of rocket bombs was looming ahead. The Government therefore
decided to evacuate a large number of patients out of the danger zone. Within
a fortnight after the decision was taken, 6,500 patients were sent from L.C.C.
hospitals, in hospital trains provided by the Government, to other parts of the
country. Scotland and Wales, the Midlands, the North and the West were the
main receiving areas and a very warm tribute must be paid to the hospital
authorities and their staffs and the people of the neighbourhood for the welcome
which they gave to these unfortunate people, mostly chronic sick and the tuberculous,
uprooted from their surroundings and parted from their relations and friends,
tired after weeks, or even months of almost sleepless nights, and anxious about the
fate of those whom they had left behind.
The opening, at very short notice, and the administration by the Council of
four hospitals situated between 200 and 400 miles from London was a difficult and
anxious task, which was only possible by the close co-operation of many departments
of the Council. Most, however, of the evacuated patients were in hospitals
administered by the authorities of the areas concerned, sometimes as large units
staffed mainly by the London County Council and the outer London authorities,
but generally just in one or two wards.
Despite the upheaval caused by the bombing and the evacuation, a highly
successful medical society was formed by the L.C.C. staff during the year.
The work of the department was increasingly handicapped by shortage of staff
of all grades, both centrally and at the hospitals.
The ambulance service was called upon to endure yet another arduous year
and it did so without flinching.
The School Medical Service carried out its normal functions and, in addition,
was responsible for the pre-evacuation inspection of 118,044 children. There was
no recurrence of the complaints about the condition of the children which were
received in 1939. On the contrary, many letters referred to the surprisingly good
health and cleanliness of the children, especially in view of the state of London and
the shelter life which then prevailed.
There were 96,229 routine inspections of children in London schools. Nutrition
was better than in 1938, a great tribute to the work of the Ministry of Food.
Possibly associated with the better nutrition, there was an improvement in the
dental condition, though there is still much to be done before the children's teeth
can be regarded as satisfactory.
The report of the Mental Health Services shows a further decline, from 30,812
to 30,372 of mental patients under institutional care. Several of the hospitals were
damaged by bombs, and by reason of this and the use of accommodation for Emergency
Hospital Service purposes, overcrowding continues.
The farming operations were increased and now extend over 6,559 acres.
It is a great pleasure to be able to record that during 1944 the British Empire
Medal was awarded for gallantry to Miss W. A. Redgwell, telephone operator at
St. Mary Abbots Hospital, and to Miss M. E. McCrossam, student nurse,
Mr. L. L. G. Townsend, general porter, Mr. H. C. Allchorne, dispensary porter,
and Mr. V. G. Grout, porter, all at Lewisham Hospital.
VITAL STATISTICS
The Registrar-General estimates the civilian population of the county in the Population
middle of 1944 to have been 2,462,500, compared with 2,500,600 a year earlier. The
corresponding estimates for metropolitan boroughs are shown in the table on page 9,
and the rates given in this annual report are calculated upon these figures.
The marriages registered in London during 1944 numbered approximately Marriages
26,450 or 21.5 per thousand of the population, the provisional rate for the preceding
year being 21.7. B