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6
Isolation Hospital.
The Leyton Temporary Isolation Hospital, built 40 years ago,
is still in existence; but it has long ceased to be adequate or suitable
for the needs of the area. At the end of the year no further progress
had been made to give effect to the recommendations contained in
the Essex County Council Scheme, approved by the Ministry of
Health, for the provision of new fever hospital accommodation by
the formation of a Joint Hospital Board.
In my last Annual Report there was included the result of a
special investigation by Dr. F. W. Gavin of the records of scarlet
fever patients treated in hospital in order to determine what
correlation exists between the density of occupation of wards and
the incidence rate of complications. The investigation was continued
during 1935 and the results will be found in the form of a
special report on pages 85 to 92.
Maternity and Child Welfare.
The number of deaths of infants under one year of age was (30,
this being the lowest number of infant deaths ever recorded in
the Borough. The infantile mortality rate—40.18 deaths of
infants under one year of age per thousand live births—compares
favourably with rates of 58.00 for London and 57.00 for England
and Wales.
Seven women died from diseases and accidents associated with
pregnancy and childbirth, the maternal mortality rate being 4.68
per 1.000 live births, comparing with a rate of 4.10 for England
and Wales. This is the first year since 1931 in which the Leyton
maternal mortality rate has exceeded that of the country generally.
During the year under review the attendances at the Council's
Infant Welfare Clinics numbered 10,370, an increase of 1,003 as
compared with the figure for the previous year. There was also an
increase in the number of expectant mothers attending the Antenatal
Clinics for supervision. Of 1,493 Leyton women who gave
birth to children during 1935, some 716 (47 per cent.) had their
confinements in residential institutions.
With the opening of the new Park House Clinic in September,
arrangements were made for the institution of special Toddlers'
Clinics for the medical supervision of children from two to five
years of age. One weekly Toddlers' Clinic is now held at each of
the two Centres.