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Births and Birth Rate (figures for 1941 are given in brackets).
The total number of births notified to the Health Department under the Public
Health Act, 1936, was 921 (769). The total number of registered births in the district
(under the Births and Deaths Registration Act—included in the notified births above)
was 498 (445). The total number of live births belonging to the district whether
occurring within or outside the district was 826 (713). The illegitimate live births were
38 (30). There were 23 stillbirths (14), and these were legitimate, with two exceptions.
The number of expectant mothers who wish to have their confinements in hospital
is steadily on the increase. This is partly due to the inability to obtain help in the home
and lack of suitable accommodation in the home for confinement purposes. Many expectant
mothers are the wives of serving men, and are often living with relatives, and the
contingency of pregnancy has apparently not been anticipated. The table below gives
the analysis of the places of confinement and monthly registration of births classified in
Wards, is given in Appendix Table V. Details of abnormalities in confinements during
1942 are to be found in Appendix Table XI.

Infant Mortality.
The total number of deaths under one year of age was 47. The rate per 1,000
births was 55. The corresponding rate for England and Wales was 49, for London 60,
and for the 148 smaller towns 46 per 1,000.
The infant mortality rate shows a satisfactory decrease on that of the previous year,
which can be attributed to the provision of special nourishment for expectant mothers,
and the increase of Ante-Natal care. For details of cases of deaths of infants in the year
see Appendix Table VII.
Maternal Morbidity and Mortality.
During the year four cases of puerperal pyrexia were notified.
There were two maternal deaths during the year in connection with childbirth ; one
occurred in Hillingdon County Hospital.
GENERAL PROVISION OF HEALTH SERVICES IN THE BOROUGH.
Nursing in the Home.
General Nursing.
The local District Nursing Association provides three nurses in the district for the
home nursing of cases or ordinary sickness and accidents.
During 1942 the total number of visits made by the nurses was 7,820. A certain
number of these patients were referred to the Nursing Association from the Maternity
and Child Welfare Clinics.
The Council makes a monetary grant towards the service generally, and a specific
grant per visit to toddlers treated under the Maternity and Child Welfare scheme.
Infectious Disease (Measles).
The Health Visitors act if need be as nurses in the case of Measles outbreaks. No
call was made on their services during the year.
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