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The occupation, too, of the parents must be taken into account. In certain
occupations it is most undesirable that the breadwinner should live in a house in
which there is a case of infectious disease.
Having regard to all these and similar circumstances, I have formed the
opinion that in Barking you should have one and a-quarter beds per thousand
population—i.e., you will want one hundred beds for a population of eighty thousand
and you will want one hundred and twenty-five beds for a population of one
hundred thousand.
(c) General Provision of Hospital Services for the District.—A special report
has been prepared, and is here included, which shows in tabular form the hospital
services available, public and voluntary, for the people of Barking.
17. MATERNITY AND NURSING HOMES.
With the exception of the maternity ward maintained by you at Upney, there
is only one house in Barking used as a nursing home.
During 1931, two births have been notified from this address.
It appears to me necessary and desirable that you as a Council should be the
Authority for the registration of nursing homes under the Nursing Homes Registration
Act, 1927.
At the present time the County Council carry out these duties, but it is obvious
that you as a Council, with all the information your officers are able to put before
you, are in the best position of any Authority to decide as to the desirability or
otherwise of registering premises under this Act.
That this information is of the utmost value is shown by the fact that the County
as a matter of routine send letters to the Medical Officers of Health of Sanitary
Districts in which it is proposed to establish a new nursing home, asking them for
their observations and advising them that perhaps they may think it desirable to
discuss the matter with the Chief Officer of the Fire Brigade.
18. MATERNAL MORTALITY.
Cases of deaths due to pregnancy or childbirth are investigated, and during
the year four confidential reports have been submitted to the Ministry of Health.