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year, local records gave a figure of 871 live births and 19 still-births
in 1939, and this gives a live birth rate of 12 21 compared with
12.622 in 1938.
NATURAL AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS
Details of the area and character of the district have been given
in previous reports. The estimate of the population at June, 1939,
based on information possessed by the Department, is 71,300.
UNEMPLOYMENT AND PUBLIC ASSISTANCE.
The unemployment in the district is shown by the figures
supplied by the Ministry of Labour ; the number of Beckenham
residents registered as unemployed on the 31st December, 1939, was
194, as compared with 105 the previous year. The figures for West
Wickham accounted for approximately half the total.
The Kent County Council Public Assistance Department state
that out-relief was given in Beckenham and West Wickham during
the year to 548 cases, and that 450 cases were admitted for treatment
to the Farnborough Hospital.
PUBLIC MORTUARY.
There were 46 cases of sudden death in the district during 1939,
where the public mortuary was used.
VENEREAL DISEASES.
There is no treatment Centre in the area for these diseases.
The K.C.C. provide a Clinic at Dartford.
NURSING HOMES REGISTRATION ACT, 1927.
At the end of the year there were 12 Homes on the Register;
no new applications were received during 1939. The Medical Officer
of Health and Assistant M.O.H. paid 30 visits of inspection to the
premises and found the records and equipment satisfactory. Local
papers are scrutinised for advertisements of unregistered homes
and one such advertisement was withdrawn after representations
were made by the Department.
BOARDED OUT CHILDREN.
At the beginning of the year there were 17 registered foster
mothers having charge of 18 children. At the end of 1939 there
were 38 children under the care of 11 foster mothers.
One Nursery Home was established in 1939 with accommodation
for 25 children and this accounts for the large increase in the
number of " Boarded Out Children " on the Register.
The Health Visitors made 48 inspections of the premises on
the register, and most of the children were seen at the Welfare
Centres.
MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE
This service deals with the ante-natal care of expectant
mothers and the supervision of nursing mothers and of the children
up to the age of five years.
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