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As regards deaths from tuberculosis, the figures are equally gratifying,
for in 1963 deaths from pulmonary tuberculosis registered as
belonging to the Borough of Battersea numbered 7 as against 12 in the
previous year. The table on page 17 shows the death rate expressed per
hundred thousand of the population. Thus in 1963 both notifications and
deaths from this disease were the lowest ever recorded. As mentioned
elsewhere in the report this decline is due to many factors, including
modern drug treatment, better housing and living conditions and the
vaccination with B.C.G. of school children which was introduced in the
Borough in 1955.
One of the features of 1963, which might have had an effect on the
health of the Borough, was the very severe winter; one of the most
severe in living memory, when the extremely cold weather extended into
March. During this period, the Health Department was called upon to
deal with a number of problems notably in relation to burst pipes, and
it was known also that the difficulties of some old people were extenuated
during the cold weather. Apart from this, however, there did not appear
to be any obvious deterioration in the general health of the Borough,
and this is confirmed by the statistics for the year which do not reveal
any direct adverse consequences of the severe weather. One might
have expected that deaths from pneumonia and bronchitis for that
period might have been higher, and in fact during the first quarter of
1963 there was an increase in deaths both of pneumonia and bronchitis
as compared with 1962. However, the total number of deaths from these
diseases for the whole year showed very little change between the two
years. The figures are too small for statistical analysis, and it is not
possible to say definitely that the increase in deaths from pneumonia
and bronchitis in the first quarter of 1963 was in fact directly due to the
cold weather, although, of course, this might have been a factor.
The work undertaken by the Department in connection with houses
in multiple occupation under the Housing Act, 1961, continued in 1963
and a short account of this work is given in the body of the reportAs
I pointed out last year, rapid progress in this work is not to be
expected, but certainly some results have been achieved in improving
property and one Management Order was made by the Council. The
Housing Bill, 1963, has not yet become law, but it seems that some of
its provisions will extend to houses in multiple occupation, and it is
clear that these two separate but related pieces of legislation will need
to be dealt with side by side. The whole problem of houses in multiple
occupation and the improvement of existing houses as envisaged under
the Housing Bill, 1963, will certainly need further close study.
During 1963 the work under the Clean Air Act, 1956, continuedBattersea
No. 3 Smoke Control Order became operative during the year
and the No. 4 Area has now been put forward by the Council. Owing
to the change of policy in relation to gas production, some doubt has
been expressed as to future supplies of gas coke. The situation needs
to be clarified, as continued uncertainty could impede further progress
in this work. The plan on page 35 shows pictorially the progress
achieved and proposed.
Our efforts in dealing with the care of old people continued during
the year, and I am pleased to record the happy relationships and close
co-operation received from the Battersea Old People's Welfare