[Report 1923] / Medical Officer of Health, Fife County Council.

  • Fife (Scotland). County Council.
Date:
1923
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1923] / Medical Officer of Health, Fife County Council. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    48/69 (page 47)
    Annual reports on the work under the Welfare Scheme and the Mid wives Act have already been submitted. During 1923, additional nourishment was granted in 47 cases, the approximate cost to the District Committee being £50. The articles furnished are milk, oatmeal, cod liver oil, eggs, and meat. During the year the question of some form of motor transport to permit of the nurses covering their areas more quickly and efficiently was under consideration but was postponed for further inquiry. Kirkcaldy Maternity Home :—The District Committee pays for women from their area entering the Burgh Maternity Home on the basis of “ user.” The cost is high, over £19 for each patient entering the Home : this figure is inclusive of Capital and maintenance expenditure. The Committee is therefore contributing steadily to the purchase of the Home by Kirkcaldy Burgh Council but have no say in its administration (and certain items in the annual financial statement vary widely). I think the District Committee should approach the Burgh Council with a view to exploring for some more equitable basis of payment for patients admitted from the Landward Area. VITAL EVENTS. During 1923, there were 1,266 births registered of which 77 were illegitimate. The birth-rate, corrected for transfers, was 28.5 per 1,000 of an estimated population of 44,383. The illegitimate births were 6.1 per cent, of the total births. The deaths of infants under one year were 97, the infantile mortality-rate being 77 as compared with 104 in 1922. There were 230 marriages registered, the uncorrected marriage- rate being 5.2. The deaths from all causes numbered 481, the death-rate, corrected for transfers and adjusted for age and sex distribution, being 12 per 1,000. The death-rate from tuberculosis was 0.81 while that from pulmonary tuberculosis was 0.52 per 1,000. The returns are tabulated in detail at the end of the Report.