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
Beckenham 1948
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Beckenham]
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I nfantile Mortality Rates in Beckenham. 1892— 1948.
| 1892—1901 | 114.3 per 1,000 live births | Prior to the introduction of the Service. |
| 1902—1907 | 99.0 „ „ „ „ | |
| 1908—1913 | 75.6 „ „ „ „ | |
| 1914—1919 | 63.5 „ „ „ „ | Includes the years 1918 and 1919 when many babies died in the pandemic of Influenza. |
| 1920—1924 | 53.19 „ „ „ „ | |
| 1925—1929 | 48.03 „ „ „ „ | |
| 1930—1934 | 35.51 „ „ „ „ | |
| 1935—1939 | 33.04 ,, ,, ,, ,, | |
| 1940—1944 | 30.04„ „ „ „ | |
| 1945—June, 1948 | 27.16„ „ „ „ |
Maternal Mortality Rates in Beckenham. 1920—1948.
| 1920-1924 | 2 .23 per 1,000 births |
| 1925-1929 | 3.24 ,, ,, ,, |
| 1930—1934 | 2.53 ,, ,, ,, |
| 1935-1939 | 1.47 ,, ,, ,, |
| 1940-1944 | 0.70 ,, ,, ,, |
| 1945-june, 1948 | 0.85 „ „ ,, |
Of course, it would not be right to claim the whole of this saving of
infants' lives for the special Maternity and Child Welfare Service: many
other factors have their part. Other activities of the Public Health
Service such as the improvement in housing and other environmental
conditions; control of infectious disease, the supervision exercised
over the production, storing and distribution of food—particularly
milk-have all had their effect. Improvement in the economic conditions
of the poorer members of the community and the reduction in the
number of children per family have been of importance. But most important
of all has been the interest shown by the mothers and their
appreciation of the benefits to be received from the regular supervision
of their children and the advice given by persons with experience.
2. Beckenham and Penge Joint Maternity Hospital.
The original Maternity Home was opened in August, 1920, in a
large house in Croydon Road, Beckenham. The establishment of this
Home was the joint effort of the Beckenham and Penge Urban District
Councils. Throughout the whole period of its existence, the Maternity
Hospital was asministered by a Joint Committee with representatives
from both Authorities, and the Committee's Officers were the Officers
of the Beckenham Authority.
When the Home was opened it had accommodation for ten patients,
but to meet the increasing demand, the number of beds was soon raised to
fourteen.
Quite early in its career, the Home was recognised by the Central
Midwives Board as a Training Institution for pupil midwives.
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