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
Finchley 1937
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Finchley]
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Accommodation for Maternity Cases.
According to the Registrar-General 920 children were
born to Finch ley parents in 1937, but the Public Health Department
had knowledge of only 844.
The following table shows the places of birth of Finchley children for the past four years:—
| 1934 | 1935 | 1936 | 1937 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private homes in Finchley | 356 | 324 | 322 | 334 |
| Nursing Homes in Finchley | 57 | 70 | 59 | 59 |
| Wellhouse Hospital, Barnet | 122 | 125 | I25 | 136 |
| North Middlesex County Hospital | 3 | 9 | 60 | 73 |
| London Hospitals | 85 | 128 | 141 | 97 |
| Nursing Homes outside Finchley | 63 | 81 | 68 | 121 |
| Private homes outside Finchley | 2 | 2 | 20 | 24 |
| 688 | 739 | 795 | 844 |
It will be seen that the tendency for women to have their
confinements away from home continues to increase, the
percentage in 1934 being 48 and 60 in 1937.
The Council have continued to bring to the notice of the
Ministry of Health and the Middlesex County Council the
urgency for the provision of adequate maternity accommodation
readily accessible to Finchley women and it would appear
that the position is realised by all concerned as the
County Council have stated that they are anxious and willing
to provide the necessary accommodation at the earliest possible
date. For the present we can only hope that that date
is not far distant.
Maternal Mortality.
In 1937 there was only one maternal death as compared
with three in the previous year. The maternal mortality rate
was 1.09 per 1,000 births, while the rate for England and
Wales was 3.23.
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