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
Willesden 1953
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Willesden]
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18
L.M..; 66 years; female.
Died unnotified on 17.7.53.
Admitted Central Middlesex Hospital on 14.7.53 with a history that she had been suffering from
chronic bronchitis and asthma for some time. Apparently no previous investigations had been made and
she died rapidly from emphysema, pulmonary tuberculosis and right sided congestive cardiac failure.
C.H.B. 67 years; male.
Died unnotified on 29.1.53.
Admitted Central Middlesex Hospital 27.1.53 with broncho-pneumonia from which he died. At
post-mortem some evidence of chronic pulmonary tuberculosis was also found. History of chronic cough
for some years but not previously investigated.
W.E. W. 70 years; male.
Notified 19.11.53; died 4.12.53.
First sought medical advice at Manor House Hospital in August, 1953, but the true diagnosis of
pulmonary tuberculosis was missed. He was later admitted to Central Middlesex Hospital in November,
1953, in very poor condition and died on 4.12.53.
R.C.W.; 71 years; male.
Died unnotified on 16.5.53.
Under supervision at Paddington Chest Clinic since 1949 and Willesden Chest Clinic since 1951.
IV. 1953 Death and Cases by Wards
| Ward | Pulmonary Cases | Non-Pulmonary Cases | Pulmonary Rate | Combined Rate | All Forms | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deaths | Rate | |||||
| Carlton | 30 | 2 | 2.385 | 2.545 | 2 | .159 |
| Kilburn | 21 | 3 | 1.533 | 1.752 | 3 | .219 |
| Stonebridge | 9 | 2 | .758 | .927 | 1 | .078 |
| Roundwood | 14 | — | 1.039 | 1.039 | 4 | .331 |
| Brondesbury Park | 14 | 2 | 1.086 | 1.241 | 3 | .236 |
| Kensal Rise | 11 | 3 | .910 | 1.158 | — | — |
| Cricklewood | 13 | 2 | 1.119 | 1.291 | 3 | .253 |
| Church End | 17 | 4 | 1.242 | 1.534 | 2 | .148 |
| Willesden Green | 16 | 2 | 1.117 | 1.257 | — | — |
| Harlesden | 16 | 3 | 1.380 | 1.639 | 3 | .212 |
| Mapesbury | 21 | 3 | 1.684 | 1.924 | 1 | .080 |
| Manor | 12 | 2 | .943 | 1.100 | 3 | .221 |
| Gladstone | 16 | 1 | 1.176 | 1.250 | — | — |
| Brentwater | 6 | — | .505 | .505 | — | — |
| Whole Borough | 216 | 29 | 1.210 | 1.372 | 25 | .140 |
SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE AREA
Water
The Metropolitan Water Board and the Colne Valley Water Company supply Willesden with
water of excellent quality.
Sewage and Drainage
Most of the sewage of the Borough is discharged into the London County Council main sewers,
but a small amount from the Park Royal area is discharged into the West Middlesex Main Drainage system.
Refuse Disposal
The Borough Engineer's department deals with the provision of dust-bins.
House refuse is collected weekly; trade refuse as often are required at an agreed charge. The
refuse is disposed of by controlled tipping at Twyford.
Household Arrangements
The County Report of Middlesex (Census 1951) reveals clearly the housing problems of Willesden
as compared with the rest of the County. Because Willesden was developed first in the County, it has the
oldest property with all the defects that arise therefrom.
Shared Dwellings and Overcrowding
In Willesden there is a much higher proportion of households in shared dwellings (six out of ten)
than for the average of the County (three out of ten) and Greater London (four out of ten). It is much
higher than that of England and Wales (two out of tern).