London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Hackney 1945
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hackney]
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15
MATERNAL MORTALITY.
During 1945 there was 1 death from Puerperal Sepsis and five
deaths from other causes directly connected with childbirth.
These deaths represent a death-rate of 2.32 per 1,000 total births
as compared with a rate for England and Wales of 1.79.
The maternal mortality-rates in England and Wales and in Hackney in the past five years were:—
| District. | Maternal mortality rate, 1945. | Maternal mortality-rates in previous years. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1944 | 1943 | 1942 | 1941 | ||
| England and Wales | 1.79 | 1.93 | 2.29 | 2.01 | 2.23 |
| Hackney | 2.32 | 0.37 | 1.12 | 1.22 | 2.65 |
MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE
Maternity and Child Welfare Centres.—Immediately prior to
the war the Borough was served by six municipal and two voluntary
maternity and child welfare centres. Immediately upon the outbreak
of war the two voluntary centres closed and have not been
re-opened and, as one of the municipal centres (that held at Grove
Mission Hall, Brooksby's Walk) was damaged by enemy action
and is no longer available to the Council, the Borough now has
welfare centre accommodation at only five premises.
Since the end of the war attention has been given to the future
needs of the Borough for welfare centre accommodation. The
prior claims of housing upon building labour and materials must,
of course, affect the period of time within which schemes for building
premises needed for maternity and child welfare purposes can be
carried out, but it is hoped that as soon as is practicable the
Borough will have eight specially erected and fully equipped
maternity and child welfare centres.