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Mortality Rate was 46 per 1,000 births (against 44 and 48). These figures
are quite satisfactory as far as they go and compare well with some other
areas (see Table 3 on page 15).
Maternal Mortality gave some concern in the district as the result of
the relatively high figure published for 1933 (11.3 per 1,000 births). However,
as I pointed out in a report made on this subject, it is quite unsafe to take
the figures for any one year in a relatively small population such as this, as
the figures cannot be statistically significant. When taken over ten years
they were found to give a result which was almost exactly the same as for
the county as a whole and rather less than that for England and Wales.
Tn 1934 the figure dropped to 1.41 per 1,000 births (one death only) which
illustrates the fallacy of yearly figures in a population of about 50,000.
Nevertheless it must not be thought that there is any complacence felt with
regard to the position relative to maternal mortality, and while there is any
morbidity or ill-health connected with childbirth, more especially of course
if mortality should occur, the question must be a live concern for the Council.
At the end of the year a sub-committee was appointed to consider the problem
in relation to bringing the Council's maternity services to a more advanced
state and it is hoped that additional services will be available during
the present year.
During the year the Middlesex County Council Act received the Royal
Assent (July 31st, 1934). The Act affects the Health Department in several
ways, notably, refuse disposal, control over hairdressers' and barbers' shops
and control over massage establishments, all of which are receiving attention
in the Department. With regard to refuse disposal the protection given
to Southall is small as the major portion of dumping as it affects Southall is
just outside the Southall boundary, and under the Act. only the local authority
in whose area the dumping takes place can together with the County Council
make regulations with regard to that dumping. Representations have been
made by the Council but, to the end of the year, with an unknown result.
At the Isolation Hospital Mrs. West, the Matron, retired at the beginning
of the yea. She was accorded an expression of thanks and good wishes
from the Council. Miss James, the sister, was appointed the new Matron.
The need for a cubicle block at the hospital remains acute. This was more
especially in evidence in the autumn of 1934 when many cases of diphtheria
from North Road School and the vicinity were admitted. The whole question
of Isolation Hospital accommodation in the County is however still subject
to discussion, but it is hoped that during this year a final decision will be
reached.
The Branch Clinic which was held on the early closing afternoon at
the Branch Library was, for reasons of space, moved elsewhere in September,
1934. Temporary premises were hired at Holy Trinity Mission Hall in Allenby
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