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14
The Infant Mortality Rate, or the Death Rate of Infants under
1 year of age per 1,000 registered live births, is 53, a decrease of 7.
The corresponding figures for England and Wales, and the 148
smaller towns are 58 and 55 respectively.
In general it will be noted that, compared with England and
Wales as a whole and Towns of a population equivalent to that of
Romford, we have a higher birth rate, a lower death rate, and a
lower Infant Mortality Rate. The Maternal Mortality Rate for
the other towns is not yet available, but, compared with England
and Wales in general, we have, also, a lower rate. Furthermore,
it will been seen from Table 2 that the Death Rates in Romford
for certain specified conditions bear favourable comparison with
other parts of the Country.
This, in my opinion, is a gratifying conclusion of a year's work.
GENERAL PROVISION OF HEALTH SERVICES FOR
THE AREA.
A. Infectious Diseases.
1. Fevers.
The Infectious Diseases' Hospital at Rush Green, under the
jurisdiction of the Romford Joint Hospital Board, continues to
serve this District, Dagenham Urban District, and Hornchurch
Urban District, and draws from a population of approximately
215,000. Although the Hospital is not actually within the geographical
area of Romford, yet its situation at about two to three
hundred yards from the South-West boundary is sufficiently near
to make it accessible for the immediate admission of urgent cases.
During the month of November, the extensions contemplated
in my previous reports, were completed, and officially opened. These
comprise a new Nurses' Home, and 5 Ward Blocks, made up of 2
Pavilion Wards each with 26 Beds, and 3 Cubicle Blocks, two of
which are Y shaped having 15 Cubicles each, and a third consisting
of a straight row of 12 Cubicles with an Operating Theatre. In
addition, the Boiler House and Laundry have been practically
doubled in size. A Porter's Lodge has also been erected near the
main gate with Visitors' Room and Waiting Room attached. Roads
have been built around the Wards, and all Wards are connected
by Covered Ways.
The Hospital now provides 235 beds on an estimate of 144
square feet per bed, which compares with 141 beds on a similar
estimate prior to enlargement. This will undoubtedly relieve the
pressure on beds which has been so noticeable during previous years,
and will allow for a greater variety of infectious diseases to be
admitted. Hitherto, many cases have had to be sent to the London
Fever Hospital, or to Isolation Hospitals under the control of the
London County Council when the Rush Green Hospital has been
full,