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2
PREFACE
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors
of the Metropolitan Borough of Chelsea.
Madam Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to submit my Annual Report on the health of
the Metropolitan Borough of Chelsea for 1940.
The chief vital statistics relating to the year are as follows:- The
Civilian population of the Borough is estimated by the Registrar-General
at 38,700 a figure which is lower than that for last year.
The birth rate (11.0) is higher than that for last year (9.7). The
marriage rate (2.1.6) is higher than that for last year (19.2). The
death rate (22.0) higher than that for London generally (17.8) and
compares with 14.6 last year. It is, perhaps, not generally realised
that over 10 per cent, of the Chelsea population is made up of persons
over 65 years of age—a much higher proportion than that obtaining in
any other Metropolitan Borough—and that over one-half of all deaths in
Chelsea occur in persons over 65 years of age.
The infant mortality rate is 40 per 1,000 live births, as compared
with 33 last year.
The general improvement in the public health of the Borough continues
to be maintained.
There was a decrease in the total incidence of notifiable infectious
disease during the year. The total number of notifications, excluding
duplicates, was 343, as compared with 372 last year.
At the end of the year there were 177 cases of pulmonary tuberculosis
and 35 cases of non-pulmonary tuberculosis known to be living in the
Borough—a total much lower than that for last year.
Maternity and Child Welfare work has continued to grow in extent
and usefulness. The attendances at the welfare centres were 4650
and 4,700 visits to homes of patients were recorded. I continue to
receive most valuable assistance from the Chelsea Health Society, and
cannot speak too highly of the efficiency of the Society's work.
Section III. of the report deals with Sanitary Administration. The
statistics indicate that constant attention is devoted to the improvement
of housing accommodation in the Borough.
As in former years, much attention has been devoted to the supervision
of food supplies.