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Annual Report of the Medical Officer of Health for the year 1971
Vital Statistics
Area and Population
The London Borough of Hounslow covers an area of 14,469
acres and contains an estimated population of 206,650
people.
There were 3,248 live births compared with 2,213 deaths
giving a natural increase of 1,035 persons.
The research and intelligence unit of the Greater London
Council provides estimated populations of all London
boroughs by age groups and those for Hounslow are
for 1970. The adjusted death rate was 11.3 which is a little
less than that for the whole country.
Included in the 1,102 total male deaths are 309
occurring between the ages of 45 and 64 - early to late
middle age. Over two thirds succumbed either to heart
disease (130) or cancer (121). Of the 186 female deaths
again two thirds were ascribed to cancer (55) or heart
disease (45).
Since the borough was formed in 1965 the number of
live births has exceeded the number of deaths by 8,184
but despite this the Registrar General estimates that during
the same period the local population has decreased by
900 which suggests a net outward migration of some
9,084 people to other areas.
The natural increase of 314 per cent occuring within five
years is a local example, although not necessarily typical, ol
the slow but inexorable upward trend in the number of
people in the country as a whole.
Live births
The number of live births registered during the year was
3,248 (1,678 male and 1,570 female) giving a crude live
birth rate of 15.7 per 1,000 population.
Apart from other causes, both birth and death rates will
vary according to the age and sex distribution of the
population and so to enable a valid comparison with other
areas, the Registrar General provides area comparability
factors. When the birth comparability factor of 0.97 is
applied, the borough's live birth rate becomes 15.2 which is
almost identical to that for England and Wales. Compared
with 1970 the rate for Hounslow decreased slightly and is
similar to the experience for the whole country. There
were 278 illegitimate live births, 21 more than last year
which gives an illegitimate live birth rate of 9 per cent of
total live births which is 1% higher than that for England
and Wales.
Stillbirths
Stillbirths numbered 33 which is 12 fewer than last year.
Deaths
During the year 2,213 deaths were registered, 52 more than
14
It is a sad reflection in this day and age of high levels of
national and local taxation with so much being spent on
the diagnostic and curative family doctor and hospital
services together with the local authority preventive health
services, that so many people should continue to be subject
to what can only be regarded as premature death.
Infant Mortality
There were 40 infants who died before reaching the age of
one year; 23 were male and 17 female. The infant mortality
rate was 12 per 1,000 live births compared with a rate of
18 for the country as a whole. The illegitimate infant
mortality rate was 11 which is 13 per 1,000 less than for
England and Wales.
Maternal Mortality
1 death was ascribed to maternal causes.
Infectious Diseases
International certificates of vaccination and inoculation
against smallpox, yellow fever and cholera.
Applications for authentication dealt with by the
medical officer of health numbered 8600 compared with
7365 for 1970 and 5853 during 1969.
The number of corrected notifications of infectious
diseases received during the year compared with previous
years are summarised overleaf.