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8
INFANT MORTALITY RATE.
The number of deaths of infants under one year during 1948
was 12, and the death rate per 1,000 live births 20.8—by far the
lowest rate ever recorded in the area. The rate for England and
Wales for 1948 was 34. The previous lowest rate for the Borough
had been 32.9 in 1943. It is unwise to stress too much a very low
rate for one year only, but as a matter of interest the average for
Barnes for the six years prior to the war (1934-1939) was 53 per
1,000 live births; for the six war years (1940-1945), 45 ; and for the
three post-war years (1946-1948), 31. There can be little doubt
but that the increased supervision of the expectant mother, the
greater use of ante-natal clinics, and the specialist obstetric
services, the growth of consciousness of the importance of a wise
and well-balanced diet for expectant mothers, have all contributed
lo the general lowering of infantile mortality throughout the
country-—a result in which the work of the Maternity and Child
Welfare Service has played no little part.
REMOVAL OF PERSONS IN NEED OF CARE AND
ATTENTION.
Section 47 of the National Assistance Act, 1948, makes special
provision for securing the necessary care and attention for persons
who are suffering from grave chronic disease, or, being aged,
infirm or physically incapacitated, are living in insanitary conditions,
and are unable to devote to themselves, and are not receiving
from other persons, proper care and attention.
Previously, only a few local authorities had powers under
private Acts to require the removal of such persons to a place where
they can receive proper attention. Under the powers conferred by
this Section, application may be made, if necessary, to the Magistrates
for the compulsory removal of these unfortunate people.
Difficulty, however, in dealing with these cases is not the refusal of
the person to be removed, but the problem of finding a suitable
hospital or residential accommodation to which they can be
transferred.
Although no applications to the Magistrates were necessary,
there have been several cases where action has been taken by the
Department in cases where sick and elderly persons living alone
needed care and attention. In these cases the closest liaison is
maintained with the Social Welfare Officers of the County Council,
and I am pleased to say that arrangements have been made for
direct approach to the local hospital organisation. Unfortunately,
the demand for accommodation for the elderly infirm is greatly in
excess of the supply, and it is to be hoped that this position will be
remedied at an early date. The conditions found on investigating
these cases revealed an appalling state of affairs. Aged persons.