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ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH FOR 1941.
The report is again restricted in accordance with
Ministry of Health Circular 2604 of the 24th March
1942.
A summary of vital statistics is appended from
which it will be seen that the general health of the
Borough has been maintained at a high standard.
The birth rate again shows a slight fall which is
usual in war time. The death rate is slightly raised
over 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 ante-natal care, and in this connection
it is interesting to note that more mothers than ever
attended the Corporation Ante-Natal Clinics where in
fact 74% of the expectant mothers of the Borough were
seen, and it is known that 96% of expectant mothers
received ante-natal medical care. These figures compare
with approximately 45% and 67% in 1940. The large
increase in the number of expectant mothers attending
ante-natal clinics necessitated holding additional sessions
and additional work upon your full-time Medical Officers
which was not easilv 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.
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