London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Walthamstow 1947
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]
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Illegitimate Births and Mortality
| Year. | Live Births. | Infant Deaths. | Death Rates. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legitimate. | Illegitimate. | Legitimate. | Illegitimate. | Legitimate. | Illegitimate. | |
| 1938 | 1,572 | 45 | 63 | 3 | 40.0 | 66.0 |
| 1939 | 1,566 | 40 | 45 | — | 29.0 | — |
| 1940 | 1,535 | 40 | 56 | 4 | 41.0 | 100.0 |
| 1941 | 1,254 | 50 | 50 | 2 | 40.0 | 40.0 |
| 1942 | 1,662 | 56 | 67 | 3 | 40.0 | 53.0 |
| 1943 | 1,767 | 61 | 71 | 2 | 40.0 | 32.0 |
| 1944 | 1,825 | 90 | 68 | 3 | 37.0 | 33.0 |
| 1945 | 1,614 | 99 | 61 | 5 | 37.0 | 50.0 |
| 1946 | 2,453 | 91 | 81 | 6 | 33.0 | 66.0 |
| 1947 | 2,597 | 73 | 76 | 1 | 29.0 | 13.0 |
Miss Williams, Superintendent of the Home provided by the Walthamstow Branch of the Chelmsford Diocesan Moral Welfare Association, states that the number of cases dealt with were as follows:—
| Number of cases admitted from other areas | 107 |
| Number of Babies | 62 |
| Number of Walthamstow cases | 26 |
| Total admissions | 195 |
In approximately half the Walthamstow cases the maintenance
was paid by the Public Assistance Committee.
Improvements have now been effected with regard to the
bathroom arrangements, and a refrigerator has been installed.
The Home was recently inspected by a Medical Inspector from
the Home Office, who seemed to be entirely satisfied with the
general tone of the Home and the routine of the Nursery.
The closest co-operation exists between Miss Williams and
your Council's Health Visitors.
CARE OF PREMATURE INFANTS
The action suggested in Circular 20/44 has been carried out
as far as possible and the steps taken were detailed in the report
for 1944. During 1947, 26 premature babies were born at home
and 78 in Hospitals and Nursing Homes in the area.
Of the 26 premature babies born at home, 13 were entirely
nursed at home, one died during the first 24 hours (i.e., 3.8%)
and 21 survived at the end of one month (i.e., 80.8%).
Of the 78 premature babies born in Hospital, one died during
the first 24 hours (i.e., 1.3%) and 73 survived at the end of one
month (i.e., 93.6%).
The table "Causes of Death" which follows includes seven
deaths from premature birth as compared with 22 in 1946.