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 1950
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]
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67
The Walthamstow Moral Welfare Association provides a
hostel of 19 beds staffed by three whole-time workers.
The chief difficulties in 1950 were again to secure accommodation
for confinements and suitable foster mothers.
Every possible step has, as in previous years, been taken to
ensure that the care of illegitimate children does not fall below
that given to children who are legitimate. The figures quoted
below give a comparison between illegitimate and legitimate rates.
I llegitimate B irths and M ortality
| Year | Live Births | Infant Deaths | Death Rates per 1,000 Live Births | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legitimate | Illegitimate | Legitimate | Illegitimate | Legitimate | Illegitimate | |
| 1946 | 2,453 | 91 | 81 | 6 | 33.0 | 66.0 |
| 1947 | 2,597 | 73 | 76 | 1 | 29.0 | 13.0 |
| 1948 | 1,975 | 93 | 39 | 4 | 19.0 | 43.0 |
| 1949 | 1,771 | 65 | 51 | 3 | 28.0 | 46.0 |
| 1950 | 1,536 | 62 | 41 | 1 | 25.0 | 16.0 |
| Totals 1946 to 1950 (5 yrs.) | 10,332 | 384 | 2,888 | 15 | 27.0 | 39.0 |
Miss Williams, Superintendent of the Home provided by the
Walthamstow Branch of the Chelmsford Diocesan Moral Welfare
Association contributes the figures set out below and adds that
they would be higher if more foster mothers and vacancies at Day
Nurseries could have been obtained. As a result the stay of the
mothers was longer and cases had to be refused. The larger number
of cases helped from other areas is equalised by Walthamstow
cases requesting help but naturally anxious to be cared for away
from their homes.
Cases admitted during 1949—
Adults—Walthamstow cases 18
From other areas 76
94
Babies—Walthamstow cases 16
From other areas 36
52
Total admissions 146
MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE CLINICS
(a) Ante and Post Natal:
Monday (once monthly) 2 p.m. Silverdale Road, Highams Park.
Monday 2 p.m. Markhouse Road, E.17.
Tuesday 9 a.m. Markhouse Road, E.17.
Wednesday 9 a.m. Markhouse Road, E.17.
* New cases only.
(In addition, a large proportion of the ante-natal work is done at
Thorpe Coombe Maternity Hospital