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Public Health Department,
Town Hall,
Bethnal Green, E.2.
May, 1957.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the
Metropolitan Borough of Bethnal Green.
Mr. Mayor, Ladles and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to submit my report on the health and
sanitary circumstances of the Borough for the year 1956.
I commenced service as Medical Officer of Health for
Bethnal Green in May, 1956, in succession to Dr. R. Duncan Dewar
who had obtained a new appointment with the Borough of Hampstead.
Dr. Dewar had held the joint appointment as Medical Officer of
Health for the Boroughs of Bethnal Green and Poplar. Upon his
resignation, both Councils decided to discontinue the Joint
arrangement and I was appointed Medical Officer of Health for this
Borough and required to devote 25% of my time to clinic duties for
the London County Council.
Statistics
The Registrar General's estimate of the population at midyear
was 52,280, which is a reduction in the previous year's
figure of 53,860.
The death rate was 10.7 as compared with 10.3 for 1955.
The birth rate of 17.3 showed a favourable trend as compared
with 15.7 for 1955.
The infant mortality rate was 24.0 as compared with 20.1 for
1955.
Sanitary Circumstances
21,158 visits were made to premises in the Borough and the
6,686 sanitary defects found resulted in the service of 1,700
intimation notices and 658 nuisance notices. Legal proceedings
were necessary in 65 instances.