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The following matters affecting the health of the inhabitants
of the borough were dealt with during the year, as set out below:—
Clinic for Early Cases of Mental Aberration. A Clinic was
started by the Council in July this year at the Children's Hospital,
Balaam Street, Plaistow, for the treatment and guidance of cases
of borderline mental disease. The Medical Superintendent of
West Ham Mental Hospital, Dr. H. Cuthbert, or one of his
colleagues, attends to examine cases on Wednesdays and Saturdays
of each week.
Margate Convalescent Home. During the year greater use
was made of this Home; the admissions were nearly five times as
many as in 1029, when the Home was taken over under the Local
Government Act. The diet sheet was revised, and several additions
made.
Convalescent Homes for Mothers. During the year St.
Mary's Convalescent Home, Birchington, ceased to take cases of
mothers recovering from confinement. It was, however, possible
for one bed to be reserved for this purpose at "Child Haven," near
Brentwood, and also a further one at Sunningdale Convalescent
Home in Berkshire.
South Ockendon Colony. On the 5th May, 1932, the first
portion of a colony for mental defectives at South Ockendon,
Essex, was opened. The buildings comprise three villas, to
accommodate KM patients (44 adult males, 40 juvenile males, 30
adult females, and 20 juvenile females), together with the necessary
nursing and domestic staff
Births.
The number of births registered in the Borough during the
year was 6,172 (3,163 Males and 3,009 Females); but of this total
1,490 were children of non-residents, who came to be confined in
one or other of the Maternity Hospitals, or were confined while
visiting relatives or friends; while 298 West Ham women were
confined outside the Borough. Suitable adjustment makes the
net West Ham Births 4,980 (2,558 Males and 2,422 Females) ;
144 of these (68 Miles and 76 Females) were illegitimate.
Calculated on the Registrar General's estimate of the population
of the Borough at the middle of 1932, viz. 289,300, the
Rate for the year was 17.21, the lowest ever recorded for West
Ham. The Birth Rate for the Great Towns was 15.4.
Deaths.
The number of deaths registered during the year was 2,616,
but of these 383 occurred in persons not belonging to the Borough,
while the deaths of 1,080 residents of West Ham occurred in various
institutions and districts elsewhere, making the total net
deaths attributable to the Borough number 3,313, of which 1,772
were Males and 1,541 Females.
The allocation of these deaths to their different causes will be
found later in this report, but the grand total from all causes gives
an annual Death Rate of 11.4 per 1,000 of the estimated population.
1 he Death Rate for the Great Towns was 11.8.
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