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Sixty births took place in nursing homes and 20 in
private homes outside the Borough.
Fifty-nine births took place in nursing homes in Finchley
and 322 in private houses.
No less than 60% of the total births took place away
from home and 52% outside the Borough.
The accommodation at the Wellhouse Hospital continued
to become more restricted, and 60 mothers had to
be diverted to the North Middlesex Hospital. Several
meetings were held between representatives of the Boroughs
of Hornsey, Wood Green and Finchley, and strong representations
were made to the Middlesex County Council to
provide more maternity accommodation easily accessible
to the three Boroughs, and it would appear that the County
Council are giving the matter serious consideration. The
Wellhouse Hospital is deservedly very popular with Finchley
women and I am sure they would be satisfied, and the needs
of the Borough would be met, if adequate accommodation
were made available at that institution.
Maternal Mortality.
In 1936 there were 3 maternal deaths giving a rate of
3.49 per 1,000 births as compared with 3.81 for England and
Wales. Two of the deaths were the subject of Coroner's
inquiries, one was due to a ruptured extra-uterine pregnancy
and the other to peritonitis following incomplete abortion.
The third death was due to sepsis following child-birth in
hospital. There is no cause to think that any of these deaths
were due to any lack of ante-natal supervision.
The Supply of Milk for Mothers and Children.
The supply of milk and accessory foods for children is
organised by the Voluntary Association, and for that purpose
the Association receives an annual grant of £75 from the
Council.
Milk for necessitous expectant and nursing mothers is
provided by the Council free or at half-price according to
an income scale. All the milk provided must be pasteurised.
During the year 58 mothers were supplied with milk free
of cost and 5 at half price.
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