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
Wembley 1937
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wembley]
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The number of women desiring hospital confinement has
been increasing throughout the country for some time. The
percentage of Wembley confinements at home were:—
1935 50.7
1936 45.0
1937 41.8
These figures are in no way exceptional for Wembley. In
the neighbouring areas of Willesden and Harrow for example,
institutional births were 60% and over 50% in 1936 respectively.
The percentage of home and hospital confinements regarding Wembley families has been according to the following table:—
| Year | Total No. of births notified | No. of births at Home | No. of births in Hospital | No. of births in M.C.C. Hospitals (included in preceding column) | Births in Private Nursing Homes and at Private Addresses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1934 | 1,457 | 723 | 401 | - | 333 |
| 49.6% | 27.5% | 22.9% | |||
| 1935 | 1,576 | 797 | 441 | 147 | 338 |
| 50.7% | 27.9% | 9.3% | 21.4% | ||
| 1936 | 1,642 | 739 | 571 | 156 | 332 |
| 45.0% | 34.8% | 9.5% | 20.2% | ||
| 1937 | 1,846 | 772 | 734 | 175 | 340 * |
| 41.8% | 39.8% | 9.5% | 18.4% | ||
| * 161 in Wembley, 179 outside Wembley | |||||
During 1937, 314 cases were referred to various Hospitals through the Public Health Department.
| For Medical reasons | 66 |
| Home conditions unsuitable | 161 |
| Patient desired Hospital accommodation | 87 |
| Total | 314 |