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METROPOLITAN BOROUGH OF CHELSEA
Public Health Department,
Town Hall,
King' s Road,
CHELSEA, S.W.3.
July, 1957.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors
of the Metropolitan Borough of Chelsea.
Your Worship, My Lord, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have much pleasure in presenting my annual report for the year ending
31st December, 1956, which has been prepared in the manner desired by the
Minister of Health as indicated in circular No. 19 of 1956.
The population of the Borough has been estimated by the Registrar-General
to be 51,070. In 1955 it was recorded as 51,450, so that a reduction of 380 (or
0.74%) has occurred.
Births. For the first time since 1949, the number of annual births has
risen, 837 being registered, giving a rate of l6.4.
Stillbirths. These numbered 15 - Males 7: Females 8, representing a rate of
17.6 per 1,000 live and still births.
Deaths. The death rate (l6.0) remains unchanged compared with 1955. The
number of deaths (815) is ten less than the number registered in 1955 (825).
Almost 79 per cent. of the current deaths were of persons aged 65 years and over.
As recently as 1950 this particular percentage was 68.
Infant Mortality. Twenty-one infants died before attaining to the age of
one year, and the mortality rate was 25.1 per 1,000 live births.
The implementation of "Area Comparability Factors" by the Registrar-General
continues. This provides for the adjustments of sex and age components of a
particular area as compared with England and Wales as a whole. The Birth and
Death rates given above are, by these calculations, found to be 12.5 and 11.2
respectively.
Infectious Diseases. 863 notifications were received by the Public Health
Department during the year; the total in 1955 was 1,218, Whilst Measles cases
decreased by 553, the incidence of Dysentery and Food Poisoning rose by 133 and
58 respectively, A detailed review of infectious diseases is included in this
report.
Atmospheric Pollution. Close attention has always been paid to the problem
of reducing atmospheric pollution, and with the advent of the Clean Air Act, 1956,
it is felt that much will be done to effect a marked improvement in conditions.
It has been estimated that the damage to property from the discharge of smoke,
grit, and gases, and the consequent losses to efficiency in industry from this caus