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AC4366
Report for 1943
BET 48
Public Health Department,
Town Hell,
Bethnal Green,E.2.
May,1944.
To the Mayor, Aldermen & Councillors,
of the Metropolitan Borough of Bethnal Green.
Lsdies and Gentlemen,
In pursuance of the war time practice I submit herewith
a brief interim report on the health of the Borough and the
work of the Public Health Department during 1943. Comparative
figures for recent years are added to enable the Council to
note some of the changes which have taken place.
VITAL STATISTICS
As indicated in previous years, the considerable alteration
in the age and sex composition of the population, as
well as its reduction in number, render the calculation and
interpretation of vital statistics somewhat difficult.
It should be borne in mind that the following war time figures
relate solely to the civilian population in the borough.

+ greatly influenced by abnormally high rate of 98 in 1936.
The main reason for the considerable rise in general
mortality for the year was the Tube Shelter disaster, although
there were also small increases in Influenza, Cancer, Heart
disease, Bronchitis and Diarrhoea. With regard to infant deaths,
the increase is almost wholly attributable to Diarrhoea. The
Registrar General has given 47,920 as his estimate of the civilian
population in 1943.
MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE.
The reduced staff of 7 Health Visitors carries on its
essential work for maternal and child welfare in the homes,
whilc the four weekly sessions of the Maternity Clinic and
Infant Consultations, conducted by Dr. H. Andrews, the part
time Medical Officer, have also continued throughout the year.
Evacuation and return and other war circumstances are reflected
in the following changing statistics of this work :