London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

View report page

Walthamstow 1936

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]

This page requires JavaScript

80
TO THE CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE MATERNITY
AND CHILD WELFARE COMMITTEE.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I beg to present herewith a report on the work of the Department
during 1936 in respect of Maternity and Child Welfare.
The salient features include the following:—A slight increase
in the birth-rate; a maternal mortality rate of 1.74 (England and
Wales, 3.81); an infant mortality rate of 42 (England and Wales,
59); a new low record in the neo-natal death-rate (16.9); an increase
of over 1,500 in welfare attendances (all centres); an increase in
the use made of the Home Help Scheme (from 3 to 87 in six years);
and an increase in the number of in-patient confinements to 1,041.
The Maternity Home, in spite of a short closure, showed an
increase in the number of confinements from 646 in 1935 to 660 in
1936. The Home is fully booked up at the time of writing, and
plans for the much needed extensions have been passed by the
Ministry of Health.
Grateful acknowledgments must be made to the help of the
Voluntary workers at all the Centres and the good work of all
voluntary Bodies concerned with Maternity and Child Welfare in
the town.
The staff have worked hard and conscientiously and have
assisted in the compilation of this report.
I beg to thank your Committee for the sympathetic consideration
which I have always experienced.
I have the honour to be,
Your obedient Servant,
A. T. W. POWELL,
Medical Officer of Health.