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To the Worshipful the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors
of the Metropolitan Borough of Finsbury.
MR. MAYOR, LADIES & GENTLEMEN,
I have the honour to present to you my Annual Report for the
year 1961.
In my last report, that for 1960, I endeavoured to outline the
progress of the Health conditions in Finsbury for the past five
years, in a continuation of my report for 1955, when I summarised
the progress made since the war, and in consequence I dealt with
most of the subjects at greater length than usual.
I feel it is a mistake however, to scrutinize either the vital
statistics or any branch of Public Health too closely from year
to year, as considerable fluctuations occur due to chance circumstances
of little significance, whereas the trends over several
years are of greater importance. On this occasion therefore, my
report is rather more brief than usual.
I am satisfied the general health of the population has
remained good, and that the work carried out by my department has
contributed thereto.
The Birth rate has fallen very slightly from 17.1 recorded for
1960 to 16.9 for 1961, whereas the rate for the country as a
whole, rose to 17.4.
The Death rate has risen slightly from 10.1 in 1960 to 10.6 in
1961, but remains well below the National figures which also rose
from 11.5 to 12.0.
An unhappy feature which it is my duty to record, is that the
infant mortality rate, which for the past two years has been
extremely low, round and about 15, rose to just under 31. The
National rate has been between 21 and 22 in recent years. Nearly
all these infant deaths occurred in the first few days of life,
and cannot be related to unsatisfactory surroundings.
I have been asked by the Ministry to include this year a statement
of the early Neonatal and the Perinatal mortality rates which
have not previously been included as a routine in the reports of
Medical Officers of Health. The latter rate which combines Stillbirths
with deaths under one year of age (this is for many
purposes of little significance where death takes place just
before or just after birth), has been increasingly used in recent
years, and a study of these trends should prove useful in the
years ahead.
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