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
Enfield 1948
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Enfield]
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BIRTHS
The actual number of births registered in the District was as
follows:—
Males Females Total
857 827 1,684
including 24 male and 31 female illegitimate births. In addition
21 male and 15 female still births were registered.
The corrected birth rates for both sexes, live and still births, which takes into consideration those born outside the District and those in the District not rightly recorded to the District, and also the corrected birth rates for the last five years are:—
| Year. | Boys. | Girls. | Total. | Birth-rate per 1,000 Population. | Illegitimate Birth-rate per 1,000 Population. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1944 | 1,046 | 940 | 1,986 | 21.41 | 0.75 |
| 1945 | 923 | 843 | 1,766 | 18.65 | 1.15 |
| 1946 | 1,120 | 1,110 | 2,230 | 21.39 | 0.91 |
| 1947 | 1,213 | 1,142 | 2,355 | 21.82 | 0.69 |
| 1948 | 1,013 | 943 | 1,956 | 17.57 | 0.36 |
INQUESTS
Sixty-four inquests and eighty-two P.M.s without inquests
were held on Enfield residents during the year. Out of these, 84
deaths were due to natural causes, 37 to accidental causes, 14 to
suicide, 7 to misadventure, 1 to manslaughter, and in 3 cases an
open verdict was recorded.
NATIONAL ASSISTANCE ACT, 1948
No action was necessary during the year under Section 47 of
the National Assistance Act, 1948, with regard to the removal to
suitable premises of persons in need of care and attention.
Such cases as were brought to the notice of the Health Department
were dealt with by the Medical Officer of Health in co-operation
with the medical attendants, and the patients voluntarily
agreed to go to suitable institutions.
AMBULANCE FACILITIES
Under the National Health Service Act, 1946, the duty of providing
an Ambulance Service devolves upon the County Council,
and from the 5th July the Middlesex County Council Fire and
Ambulance Service have been responsible for the Ambulance
Scrvice previously controlled by the Health Department of the
Enfield Council.