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G. F. B R AM LEY. M.D.,D.P.H.
MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH.
TELEPHON E, BEXLEYH EATH 2244-/5.
BEX 7
Health Department 14 Bramton Road
Bexleyheath, Kent .
My Ref
(please quote)
Your Reff
l6th June, 1942.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER OP HEALTH FOR 1941.
The report is again restricted in accordance with Ministry of
(1) Health Circular 2604 of the 24th March, 1942.
A summary of vital statistics is appends a from which it will
be seen that the general health of the Borough has been maintained
(2) at a high standard.
The birth rate again shows a slight fall which is usual in war
(3) time. The death rate is slightly raised eve pre-war years, but
lower than in 1940. The infantile mortality rate is the lowest ever
recorded in this Borough, and the reduction appears to be chiefly
due to a reduction in the deaths under one month, that is in the
neonatal mortality rate, which is usually taken as a reflection upon
the antenatal care, and in this connection it is interesting to note
that more mothers than ever attended the Corporation Antenatal
Clinics where in fact 74% of the expectant mothers of the Borough
were seen, and it is known that 96% of expectant mothers received
antenatal medical care. These figures compare with approximately
45% and 67% in 1940. The large increase in the number of
expectant mothers attending antenatal clinics necessitated holding
additional sessions, and additional work upon your full-time
Medical Officers which was not easily fitted in having regard to
their additional war time duties in connection with Civil Defence
etc., but it was not deemed an opportune time to come to the
Council for an additional Medical Officer, especially in view of
the shortage of doctors throughout the country.
The Corporation Maternity Home has been fully occupied again
and there has been greater responsibility on all members of the
staff in view of the absence of beds in the London hospitals for
abnormal cases. Accommodation at the Home was booked up six or
seven months ahead and it will be an urgent post-war duty on the
Council or other hospital authority to provide additional maternity
institutional accommodation for this area.
During the year there was a gradual change in outlook from
one of passive defence to active production which led to the call
of women to war work including women with young children. The
Council therefore took the step of adopting the principle of
providing war time day nurseries. I have no doubt that the
Council as a Welfare Authority have taken on a furthen
Borough of Bexley.
Annual Report of the uedical Officer of Health for
1941, dated 16th June, 1942
ERRATUM. Please note that the figure in Para,6, Lino 7, should read
7,410 and not 7,011.
The corporation ambulance service continues very actively, but
more calls had to be transferred to outside ambulances owing to the
Corporation ambulance being out when required. One of the
Council's first duties after the war will be the provision of a
second ambulance.