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3
HEALTH SERVICES.
This Annual Report, as the three Reports which immediatelypreceded
it, in accordance with the instructions of the Ministry
of Health to restrict its size, consists of a statement of the most
important vital statistics and a short summary of the Health
Services of the Borough. On grounds of national security the
estimated population and the birth, death and other rates calculated
on the population have been omitted.
The maternal mortality rate shows an increase over the three
previous years and is above that for England and Wales. The
maternal deaths however, are so small in number that one higher
or one lower in a year makes a material difference in the rate which
may be off-set by a much lower rate in the following year, the
average for several years thus being, kept low.
The infant death rate of 40, although low compared with the
previous five years is not the lowest, the lowest infant death rate
being recorded in 1934 when it was 38 per thousand births.
The Maternity and Child Welfare Services continued to operate
uninterruptedly and were taken advantage of by the mothers to
the same striking extent as in pre-war years.
War-time Nurseries were increased by two during the year,
there being at the end of the year eight whole-time nurseries and
two part-time, all of which were made full use of by the mothers,
the great majority of whom were engaged in work of national
importance.
Measles and whooping cough were more prevalent during the
year. Although 2,085 cases of measles were notified the disease
caused only two deaths. There were however four deaths amongst
the 450 children notified as suffering from whooping cough. It is
notable that of 448 cases of scarlet fever notified there were no
deaths, the disease being of a very mild character with complications
rarely present. The number of cases of diphtheria was
remarkably small, namely 13, amongst which there were no deaths,
a result which can undoubtedly be attributed in large measure to
the immunization of the children.
The School Medical Services have functioned as in the previous
year. Scabies unfortunately continued to be prevalent, in fact,
the number of children affected was larger than in the previous
year.
The cleanliness of the children, however, showed a marked
improvement, for, whilst in the previous year the number of school
children who had verminous heads were found to be 3.3 per cent
the percentage during 1943 was 3.0, a result which has been attained
by insisting on the mothers' duty to cleanse their children's heads
and to keep them clean, with the constant threat of exclusion and
prosecution if they failed in their duty.