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The following table gives the adjusted Kensington and
Chelsea birth and death rates compared with the provisional rates for
London and for England and Wales for the year 1968:-
Kensineton
& Chelsea
adjusted
Inner
London
Greater
London
England
and
Wales
No. of births per
1,000 population
8.34
16.9
16.4
16.9
No. of deaths per
1,000 population
10.3
11.9
11.6
11.9
Infant Death Rate., This rate for 1968 was 18.46 and
was considerably lower than the rate for the previous year (25.3). The
provisional rate for Greater London was 18.6 and for England and Wales
18.0.
Maternal Death Rate. Only two maternal deaths were
recorded in 1968, giving a mortality rate of 0.7 per 1,000 "live and stillbirths.
The provisional rates for Greater London and England and Wales
were respectively 0.20 and 0.2k.
Infectious Diseases. The vulnerability to infectious
illness of any community in these days of widespread air travel was
demonstrated in February when smallpox was diagnosed in a boy who had
arrived from Karachi a few days before and spent most of the intervening
time in a lodging house in the borough. No outbreak resulted.
Mental Health. For the first time since this Council
became responsible for the service, there has been a decrease in the total
number of referrals (12.4%) as compared with the previous year. It would
not be appropriate at this stage to assume that this tendency will be
maintained.
In presenting this Report, I should like to express
my grateful appreciation of the kind co-operation which I have received
from The Worshipful the Mayor, the Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of the
various Committees, and all Members of the Council.
My sincere thanks are also given to the staff of
the Health and Welfare Department for their loyal and efficient service
during the year. In June, I was pleased to welcome Dr. P.J.C. Walker
as my deputy.
I am pleased also to take this opportunity of
expressing my grateful thanks for the assistance which the other Chief
Officers and their staffs have so readily and willingly given to me at
all times.
I have the honour to be,
Your obedient Servant,
J. H. WEIR
Medical Officer of Health.