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There is frequent informal consultation between the Health and Children's Departments
over the many problems which arise, both at the administrative officers and field
workers level. The formal conferences on "Children Neglected in their own Homes", which
are convened by the Children's Officer, have been held regularly and continue to serve a
very useful purpose. The Medical Officer of Health has been the Chairman and the Senior
Medical Officer, Superintendent Nursing Officer, Superintendent Health Visitor and the
Psychiatric Social Worker have attended regularly, while the Deputy Medical Officer of
Health has attended particularly on occasions when housing and mental health problems have
been discussed. It has usually been found possible for the District Health Visitor to
attend when one of her families has been under consideration. These conferences have been
well attended by officers from the other Council departments, and by the representatives
of voluntary organisations.
Vital Statistics

The Infant mortality rate (deaths of infants under 1 year per 1,000 live births)
compares favourably with the rate for England and Wales for 1958, and is the lowest rate
on record for the Borough.
Unfortunately, by contrast, the stillbirth rate is the highest on record since
1942 and compares unfavourably with the rate for England and Wales. This year there were
8l stillbirths compared with 44 last year. As most West Ham babies are born in hospital
and complete information is not always available, it is difficult to assess the reasons
for this increase. Even with complete information the cause of a stillbirth is often
obscure, but it appeared that in 15 cases (the largest single group in whioh a cause could
be presumed) the stillbirth was associated with preeclamptic toxaemia. A more detailed
study of the cakes, perhaps in relation to the date of birth, might help to indicate, or to
exclude, an epidemiological factor.
The perinatal mortality rate (calculated from the number of stillbirths plus the number
of deaths in the first week of life per 1,000 total births) is 39.8. This figure has only
recently come to be used as an index of the loss of infant life due to factors acting in the
ante-natal, natal and immediate post-natal periods.
Owing to the large increase in stillbirths the figure for West Ham in 1958 is the
highest since the rate was first calculated in 1955.
The neo-natal death rate (number of deaths of infants under 4 weeks per 1,000 live
births) is 14.75 compared with 15.9 last year. Of 52 infant deaths under 1 year, 33
occurred in the first 4 weeks, and of these 19 were premature.
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