HC Deb 03 March 1931 vol 249 cc202-3
63. Mr. FREEMAN

asked the Minister of Health whether he can state the number of women who have died in childbirth each year since the War; what percentage of these deaths are estimated to be preventible; whether he has any information showing the number who received no pre-natal supervision; and what is the proportion of deaths compared to those who did receive assistance?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY of the MINISTRY of HEALTH (Miss Lawrence)

As the answer is long and contains a number of figures, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the answer:

Statement showing the numbers of women in England and Wales who have died in childbirth attributed to preg- nancy and child-bearing in each of the years 1919 to 1929, inclusive:

Year. Total number of maternal deaths.
1919 … … … 3,028
1920 … … … 4,144
1921 … … … 3,322
1922 … … … 2,971
1923 … … … 2,892
1924 … … … 2,847
1925 … … … 2,900
1926 … … … 2,860
1927 … … … 2,690
1928 … … … 2,920
1929 … … … 2,787

The figures for 1930 are not yet available.

My right hon. Friend is advised that no reliable estimate can be formed of the proportion of maternal deaths in these years which were preventible, but he may point out that in their recent report the Departmental Committee on Maternal Mortality estimated that of the deaths brought under their notice, which they had no reason to suppose were other than fairly representative of the total, not less than one-half were preventible. No information is available in regard to the last two parts of the question, but the Departmental Committee record their opinion that while the number of women who receive ante-natal supervision is increasing, there is still a large section of the population which does not realise the advantages of such supervision.