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129
Further Requirements.
There are still, however, some gaps that require to be filled and I would enumerate these briefly
as follows :—
(1) Increased hospital accommodation so that all Willesden residents who desire hospital
confinement may have it.
In spite of the fact that the extended Hospital has been open since February, 1935, 356 cases
have been refused admission from that date up to the 31st October, 1936, on account of lack of accommodation.
No case requiring admission for medical reasons was refused and this fact enhances the
statistical records as mentioned above.
(2) More should be done to improve the fitness of the mother for childbirth and nursing her baby
by adequate feeding.
In my opinion expectant and nursing mothers should receive meals on the same lines as school
children.
(3) Greater attention should be paid to the new-born baby.
(a) Better hospital provision should be made for the care of the premature infant.
(b) A physician skilled in the care of infants, i.e., a paediatrician, should be attached to the
hospital.
Mr. Walker's report shows that there were 2,966 children born to the 2,939 booked
mothers who had their confinements in hospital. Of these 2,966 children, 53 died and
89 were still births, giving an infantile death rate of 18 per 1,000 and a still birth rate
of 30 per 1,000, or a total infantile death rate of 48 per 1,000 including live and still
births. 58 children were born to the 61 mothers admitted as emergencies. Three
of these children died and 13 were still born, giving an infantile death rate of 52 per
1,000, a still birth rate of 224 per 1,000, and a total infantile death rate of 276 per
1,000 including live and still births.
The infant mortality rate during the first two weeks of life is for England and
Wales generally in the region of 25 to 26 per 1,000, as compared with the 18 per 1,000
amongst the booked maternity cases and 52 per 1,000 for the emergency cases.
The three foregoing recommendations for the improvement of the Maternity and Child Welfare
Service of the Council arise immediately out of the report of Mr. WTalker on the first 3,000 cases admitted
to the Willesden Maternity Hospital. These recommendations are of cardinal importance and can be
given effect to without any considerable administrative difficulty. It must not be thought, however,
that these recommendations embody all that might be done for mothers and children. Many mothers
who leave the hospital are still in need of a further period of recuperation, and measures to enable them
to obtain this are desirable. Such measures, however, involve considerations other than the mother,
for example, the other members of the family and her domestic arrangements generally, and would
require careful consideration.
Mr. Walker's report is very satisfactory and testifies to the excellent pioneer work which is
being done at the Willesden Maternity Hospital. A carefully planned expansion of the work along
the lines indicated in this memorandum would give even better results and promote still further health
and happiness in Willesden homes.
GEORGE F. BUCHAN,
Medical Officer of Health.
November 2hth, 1936.
APPENDIX R.
HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
HEALTH SERVICES.
Development and Extension.
I beg to report in accordance with the following instruction :—
" We have given further consideration to the question of the proposed extension to Health
Centre 3, but we feel that the Health Services of the district would be better served by the
preparation of and adherence to a systematic programme for the development and improvement
of such services throughout the Borough during a period of years, and we have therefore
requested the Medical Officer of Health to prepare and submit to us for our consideration in
September such a programme." (Vide Council Minutes 28-7-36, Health Committee No. 9.)
For the development and improvement of the Health Services the following programme is
submitted:—
(1) Extension of Health Centre (3).
This matter is before the Committee and a further note on the subject appears later in
this report.
(2) Rebuilding of Health Centre (2).
This matter is before the Committee, who have given instructions for detailed plans and
maintenance costs to be presented to them.