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49
PART III.—SERVICES.
National Health Service Act, 1946.
Births.—In accordance with the provisions of the Public Health Act.
. 1936, all live births and all stillbirths of twenty-eight weeks gestation and
over must be notified within 36 hours to the Medical Officer of Health of
the area in which the birth took place. The number of live births notified
in Ilford under this Act during 1950 was 1,933 (988 males and 945
females), of which there were 90 (52 males and 38 females) where the
ordinary place of residence of the parents was outside Ilford.
In addition, 581 notifications of live births (316 males and 265 females)
which took place outside the district, although the ordinary residence of
the parents was in Ilford, were transferred to this district.
During the year, 4 cases in which there was default in complying with
the requirements of the Public Health Act relating to the Notification of
Births were referred to the Area Clerk.
The percentage of live births occurring in Ilford, notified by the various
responsible persons, was as follows:—
By Medical Practitioners 16
By Certified Midwives 99.64
By Parents and others 2
There were also 40 stillbirths (18 males and 22 females) notified in
Ilford including 2 (females) where the home address of the parents was
outside the district, and notifications of 10 stillbirths (5 males and 5
females) which took place outside the district, although the ordinary
residence of the parents was in Ilford, were transferred to this district.
Care of Premature Infants.—Of the 1,933 live births occurring in
ilford during 1950, 90 weighed 51 lbs. or less at birth; 30 of these babies
were born at home and 60 in Hospital (including 2 in Private Nursing
Homes).
The number of those born at home—
(i) who were nursed entirely at home 17
(ii) who died during the first 24 hours 4
(iii) who survived at the end of one month 23
The number of those born in Hospital—
(i) who died during the first 24 hours 1
(ii) who survived at the end of one month 57
Infant Mortality.—The number of infants dying within the first
year of life was 45, the total number born being 2,406. The latter figure
is supplied by the Registrar-General for calculating infant and maternal
mortality rates. The infant mortality, or rate of deaths per 1,000 live
births, was, therefore 18 7, the lowest figure ever recorded in Ilford.
Neonatal Mortality.—The death-rate of infants under four weeks
of age is known as the Neonatal Mortality. There were 32 deaths of
infants under four weeks of age during 1950 and the rate for the year
was 13 3 per 1,000 live births.