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In actual numbers there were 1,501 more births
(including stillbirths) in 1946 than in 1945, representing an
increase of slightly more than 50 per cent. The result, in
the face of a grave housing shortage, was to intensify the
already serious pressure on hospital maternity accommodation.
The Maternity Unit at Forest Gate Hospital, which,
fully staffed, has a fair working capacity of some 1,500
admissions per year, admitted in 1946 the record number
of 2,159 patients. There can be little doubt that this severe
overburdening of the Unit, at a time of staff shortage, was
an important factor in the outbreak of enteritis, which is
reported on page 12. Measures aimed at reducing overcrowding
within the Unit, and a careful overhaul of
technique, all failed to control the infection; and it was not
until the number of admissions was restricted, to conform
with the proper capacity of the Unit, that the outbreak
eventually subsided.
Despite the regrettable loss of infant lives in the outbreak
just mentioned, the infant mortality rate dropped to a
new low record of 32, a remarkable achievement in face of
the many adverse conditions resulting from the war.
The general death rate was also low, at 11.7. The
improvement which this represents was not wholly due to
the elimination of deaths from enemy action, but was
shared by many of the common causes of death.
There was a small drop in the maternal mortality,
which has maintained a low level for a number of years.
There was little of importance to note in relation to
infectious disease. The Borough had the unusual experience
of a measles epidemic for the second year in succession, but
that in 1946 was a comparatively small one with the cases
generally quite mild. There was some increase in whooping
cough and pneumonia, but a fall in scarlet fever and
diphtheria.
Scabies, which became unpleasantly prominent during
the war, shewed a very substantial decline, which leads to
the hope that it may soon reach a more normal peace-time
level.
On the whole the health record for 1946 may be
regarded as a favourable one.
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