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Public Health Department,
Deptford Town Hall, S.E.14.
Telephones:—
TIDeway 1288.
TIDeway 1360.
July, 1960.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the
Metropolitan Borough of Deptford.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am pleased to present the report on the health and environmental
circumstances of Deptford for 1959.
The birth rate has increased from 16-47 to 17-57 and there has been
a slight decrease in deaths.
Once again it is noticeable that deaths from neoplasm of the lung and
bronchus have again increased and accounted for 55 of the total deaths
in the Borough. Illegitimate births increased by 22 and constituted
8-25% of the total births. There were 805 cases of measles and 144
whooping cough notified, and these accounted very largely for the total
increase of notifications of infectious diseases during the year. There
was one case of Poliomyelitis and the Borough was free of Diphtheria.
I am pleased to include in my report a contribution from Dr. Rigby
the Chest Physician, on the work of the Chest Clinic at Harton Street,
and also a report of the year's work from Dr. Morgan of the Mass
Miniature Radiography Unit.
The final phase of the battle against Pulmonary Tuberculosis has begun
but the organism is tenacious and versatile and the residuum of infection
in the population may persist for many years to come. Fortunately
with chemo-therapy, B.C.G. and Mass Radiography used intelligently
and resolutely, the final issue should be beyond reasonable doubt.
Services for the old people were expanded by the appointment of a
Woman Health Officer to visit the aged and infirm in their own homes
and generally to supervise cleanliness and their personal needs. The
Laundry service for the incontinent was enlarged and the number of
articles laundered was more than doubled last year. It is hoped that
bathing and laundry facilities will continue to expand even further in
the future.
Once again the County Council Institutions and the Geriatric Unit at
St. Alfege's Hospital must be thanked for the help and co-operation which
the Department receives.
Turning to environmental matters, it must be observed that overcrowding
may become a serious problem in certain parts of the Borough.
There is evidence that large houses are being broken up into small flats
and allowed to be occupied by numbers far in excess of statutory limits.
The legal limit does not set a high standard and it will be a grave matter
if this already low standard is allowed to be flagrantly contravened. With
the shortage of Public Health Inspectors it is impossible to institute house
to house inspection in order fully to assess the position and, in any case,
to be effective, inspection would have to be undertaken in the evening or