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6
INFANT MORTALITY RATE
The number of deaths of infants under one year of age during 1949
was seven, the death rate per 1,000 live births being 13.5 This is a
substantial decrease over the previous year when the death rate was
20.8, up to then the lowest ever recorded in the area.
The rates for England and Wales were:—
1948 34
1949 32
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. This year's Infant Mortality Rate therefore not only shows a
marked reduction on previous years but is the lowest ever recorded in
this borough.
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, or are not receiving from other persons,
proper care and attention.
In only one case during the year was it found necessary to apply to
the magistrates, but before the order was granted the patient agreed to
go voluntarily to hospital.
Seven cases were reported of elderly persons who were not receiving
proper care and attention, and through co-operation with the County
Council Welfare Department and the Regional Hospital Board arrangements
were made for admission to hospital or other residential accommodation.
SANITARY INSPECTION OF THE DISTRICT
The investigation of complaints lodged by members of the public,
and the resultant action, takes up a large proportion of the time of the
Sanitary Inspectors. The majority of these complaints are concerned
with the lack of repair of dwelling houses. There is now no great
difficulty in obtaining sufficient labour and materials to carry out
essential repairs, but the main cause of the reluctance of landlords to
carry out works is the high cost of repairs. The maintenance of old
properties, which are usually let at comparatively low rents, is likely
to prove a burden which owners will find impossible to carry unless
other funds are forthcoming. The economic conditions of the past