View report page

DEATH RATES
Graph I
This graph shows the death rates for tuberculosis, cancer and
cardiovascular diseases compared with the rates for England and
Wales. The rates for Bermondsey are shown by a solid line and the
rates for England and Wales, taken from the Registrar General's
Statistical Review for 1956, are indicated by a broken line.
It is of some interest that the rate for cardiovascular diseases
shows a markedly favourable decline in comparison with that for the
whole country. From 1953, however, the trend has again been
unfavourable.
Graph II
The incidence rates for cancer of the lung and bronchitis in the
Borough and for the country as a whole are compared Graph II.
The apparent fall in bronchitis deaths from 1951 to 1955 is
probably accounted for by the wider use of the antibiotics and it
would appear that sufferers are now more likely to die from cardiac
failure at a later age. The figures for Bermondsey shown in Graph
I would tend to support this suggestion.
The trend for cancer of the lung is constant and the incidence in
Bermondsey is double that for the country as a whole.
Graph III
This graph shows the results of a small survey carried out among
three departments of the Council. It is clearly shown that the
incidence of spells of sickness rises with age. It is also apparent
that bronchitis is not just a disease of old men but that the impact
is being felt by the 40 age group. The low figure for those over the
age of 65 is due to the fact that there are limited numbers of staff
over this age.