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15
PREFACE.
Public Health Offices,
Ilford.
June, 1937.
His Worship the Mayor, Aldermen and
Councillors, of the Borough of Ilford.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I herewith submit the Annual Report required by the
Ministry of Health and the Board of Education.
Reference to Table la on page 26 of the Report will show
that Ilford still compares favourably with other districts for its
health record, the death rate being 8.2 as compared with 12.1 for
England and Wales, 12.5 for London, 12.3 for County Boroughs
and large towns and 11.5 for the smaller towns with populations
of 50,000 or under. The death rate of children under 1 year of
age was 43.4, compared with figures of 59, 66, 63 and 55 of the
same areas. The death rates from infectious diseases also
compares favourably. The birth rate has increased from 13.9
to 14.4, whereas the maternal mortality rate has been reduced to a
figure this year of 1.75, compared with the maternal mortality rate
for England and Wales of 3.81. This is the lowest maternal
mortality rate in Ilford since 1924, when it reached the very low
figure of 0.69. It is hoped that the operation of the new Midwives
Act will further reduce these rates.
The year was signalised by a considerable incidence of
infection with the organism known as Staphylococcus Aureus.
Apart from the cases which occurred in puerperal women in the
Maternity Home and on the district, the deaths took place at the
Isolation Hospital of two patients, one a girl of 11 years and one
a man of 26 years, who on admission were found to be suffering
from blood poisoning due to this particular organism, while a third
patient, admitted suffering from puerperal fever, who had been