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POPULATION.
The Registrar General has estimated the population for
1946 as 73,590. This is 7,540 more than his estimate for last
year, and by this very generous increase has adjusted this figure
to what is regarded locally as an approximate figure. It is in
fact the highest population figure he has ever given us, the
nearest being in 1939 when the estimate figure was 72,150.
BIRTHS.
As has been recorded, the registered live births total 1,261,
234 more than last year, but owing to the highest estimated
population on which the birth rate has been calculated, the birth
rate has actually fallen from its highest figure since 1923—of
18.3 in 1944 to 17.1 this year, though it is still higher than last
year, 17.1 as compared with 15.5.
INSTITUTIONAL AND DOMICILIARY BIRTHS.
The notifications show that 923 births took place in institutions,
hospitals and private nursing homes. This is 150 more
than in 1945 and represents 71.5 per cent, of the total.
They occurred in the following hospitals, etc.:—
St. Helier County Hospital 439
Nelson Hospital 209
Kingston County Hospital 18
Other hospitals, institutions and nursing homes 257
923
The increased trend towards institutional rather than domiciliary
maternity was apparent in the pre-war years, and was
no doubt taken into account in estimating the future bed need
at that time. The rapid acceleration of this trend for housing
and other domestic reasons, the great increase in the birth rate
and the shortage of nursing staff—these factors which have
created our present difficulties could hardly have been foreseen.
Hospitals have therefore been compelled to establish a system
of priorities for admission.
The arrangements whereby cases have been admitted into
hostels in the rural areas prior to the onset of labour and
admitted to the hospital at the onset of labour have afforded
relief in many anxious domestic situations in our very highly
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