View report page

13
Despite the rise in deaths from lung cancer, to which reference
has already been made in my prefatory letter, it is good to see that
the total number of deaths ascribed to cancer in all sites of the body
shows a small decrease even though it has not come back to its
pre 1955 figure.
One notices that one of the less satisfactory features of these
figures, is the rise in the number of deaths from non-tuberculous
respiratory diseases. This is particularly surprising as the winter,
if sharp, was of short duration during 1956, but it may be that the
exceptionally poor summer weather took its toll, especially of those
not in the best of health in the first instance.
Tuberculosis and infectious disease deaths remain at a very
low level, but it is regrettable to have to record sixteen deaths, an
increase of two over the previous year, from accidental causes, as
this is a sheer unnecessary waste of life.
Morbidity Statistics.
The following is a summary of the weekly returns received
from the Regional Office of the Ministry of National Insurance.
These figures give some indication of the major trend of sickness in
the area, but must not be taken as exact as the area covered by the
Ministry statistics is not exactly the same as the local authority
area.

Medical Examinations.
99 medical examinations of members or potential members of
the staff were carried out during the year.