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86
TO THE CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE MATERNITY
AND CHILD WELFARE COMMITTEE.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I beg to present herewith a report on the Maternity and Child
Welfare work carried out during 1930.
In this "Survey" Report I have endeavoured to do justice to the
very complete scheme which Dr. Clarke has evolved and which has
helped to establish a new low record in Infant Mortality during 1930.
The only extension of service during 1930 was the assumption of
duties under Part I of the Children Act, 1908, with effect from the
1st April.
Unfortunately the erection of the Maternity Home is still unavoidably
delayed, but its ultimate completion together with the proposed
provision of clinics in the Higham Hill and Hale End areas will
be of great value.
I gratefully acknowledge the co-operation I have received from
your Committee and the Staff, and would endorse Dr. Sheppard's
thanks to the splendid work of the Voluntary helpers at the Municipal
Clinic.
I have the honour to be
Your obedient servant,
A. T. W. POWELL,
Medical Officer of Health, etc.
1. NOTIFICATION OF BIRTHS.
One thousand seven hundred and seventeen births were notified
during the year under the Notification of Births Acts, 1907 and 1915,
as follows:—
Doctors, 956. Midwives, 733. Parents, etc., 28.
Included in the above are 306 births which were notified as having
occurred outside the Borough.
In addition 33 stillbirths were notified, two of which did not
belong to the Area. Of the remaining 31, 22 were notified by
Doctors and 9 by Midwives. Of the total 11 occurred outside the
Area.
The stillbirth rate per 1,000 population was the same as for 1929,
viz., 0.54.