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
Camberwell 1944
Metropolitan Borough of Camberwell annual (abridged) report of the Medical Officer of Health for the year 1944
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CAM 33
Public Health Department.
Town Hall,
Camberwell, S.E.5.
27th September, 1945.
To His Worship the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors
of the Metropolitan Borough of Camberwell.
Mr. Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors,
This report like the reports on the health of the Borough and the
work of the Public Health Department for the years 1939-43 is an
abridged war-time report.
The health of the inhabitants of the Borough throughout the year
gave no cause for anxiety.
An outbreak of influenza which started at the end of 1943 continued
in the early part of the year. Local arrangements were made at the
suggestion of the Ministry of Health to overcome the difficulties
arising out of the shortage under War conditions of medical and nursing
assistance, help in the home and the provision of meals in affected
households. The local doctors were fortunately able to meet all demands
for their services and the local branch of the Womens Voluntary Services
dealt with the few requests received for domestic help and the provision
ox meals in the homos of the afflicted. The number of deaths was 18.
It is now possible to publish the population figures which had been
previously withheld during the war years for security reasons. Those
figures relate solely to the civilian population of the Borough. The
birth and death rates are reprinted for the years 1939-43 together with
the corresponding rates for 1944.
| 1939 | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population. | 219,500 | 173,750 | 127,570 | 129,900 | 132,330 | 129,880 |
| Birth rate. | 13.85 | 15.9 | 15.6 | 18.14 | 18.76 | 18.93 |
| Death rate. | 12.43 | 19.13 | 19.9 | 15.64 | 16 | 18.7 |
| Infantile Mortality rate. | 36 | 46.6 | 58.82 | 53.88 | 48.32 | 52.05 |
| Maternal Mortality rate. | 2.04 | 1.77 | 6.52 | 2.47 | 1.18 | 1.58 |
| Tuberculosis Mortality rate. | 0.79 | 0.86 | 1.03 | 1 | 1.04 | 0.84 |
The number of cases of infectious disease in 1944 remained at a
low level. The number of new cases of pulmonary tuberculosis was more
than in 1943.
The London County Council's Mass Miniature Radiography Unit for the
detection of pulmonary tuberculosis was available in April for two months
10 South Eastern Hospital for the examination of Camberwell workers.
1123 men and 867 women volunteers employed In industrial undertakings in
the Borough were examined. The number of cases referred to the employees
own medical attendant following the X-Ray examination as "probably suffering
from tuberculosis" was:- Males 11, Females 7.
The Council decided during the year to bring within the Home Helps
Scheme, cases of sickness of mothers who have living with them children
under five years of age for whose care no alternative arrangements can
be made, always provided that the needs of expectant and nursing mothers
have already been met.