View report page

shortage of beds. A suggestion came from the Ministry
that patients, staff and Home might be evacuated
because of enemy action, but practically all the mothers
were averse to leaving their own homes and the scheme
did not materialise, so further protective measures
against enemy action were provided at the Home. The
staff worked under considerable pressure and once again
had the worry of numerous alerts and the moving of
patients to and from protected wards; the loyalty evoked
by Matron helped them to carry through. The Registrar
General gives the Maternal Mortality for the
Borough of Bexley as 1.30 per 1,000 live births as
against 1.93 for the country in general.
Both Infant Welfare Sessions and Ante-Natal
Clinics started at The Green, Falcon wood, during the
year and proved of benefit to residents in the area.
Attendances at all the Clinics decreased owing to
enemy action.
Evacuation. During the time this District in common
with others, was suffering from the effects of the
flying bombs, the services of the Medical side of the
Health Department in conjunction with those of the
Kent County Council's School Medical Service, were
called upon in connection with the medical examination
of evacuees before they were listed for removal to reception
areas. This entailed a considerable amount of work
as the Evacuation Officer had to arrange for the removal
of some thousands of persons in a very short time.
Voluntary assistance was given in connection with
these medical examinations and I wish to express my
thanks to those who gave of their time and help in this
matter.
An increase in the number of Dental Sessions made
it possible to have cases treated without undue delay,
and this treatment should prove of great benefit to the
health of the expectant and nursing mothers and their
young children.
Early in the year an additional Day Nursery was
opened in Okehampton Crescent. This has helped to
relieve the neighbouring Nurseries where there are always
more names on the Register than available places.
114