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6
Public Health Department,
Town Hall, Greenwich, S.E.10
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors,
Metropolitan Borough of Greenwich.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I beg to present the annual report on the health and environmental
circumstances of our Borough for 1953.
The population has declined slightly by 440 ; the death rate
has decreased from 10.57 to 9.40 and the birth rate has improved
from 14.34 to 15.32. For the year under review a comprehensive
Census was made and an opportunity has been taken to summarise
the main factors.
Last year the Infant Mortality rate was the lowest ever for the
Borough and it is gratifying to record another low figure of 18.10
which, although 3.48 greater than last year, is sufficiently low to
afford satisfaction. The neo-natal death rate also increased slightly
by 0.98 and accounted for 50% of all infant deaths. No maternal
deaths were recorded.
Infectious Diseases continue to decline and the total notifications
of 1,242 is 323 below the 1952 figure. This was due mainly to
a rapid decline in Measles which showed the lowest incidence since
1947. Scarlet Fever also declined by 31%. For the second time
in the history of the Borough no case of Diphtheria was recorded.
Nevertheless, I note that the number of Diphtheria immunisations
carried out during the year has fallen by 190. If this trend continues,
it will mean that in five or six years time the immunity
state for the more susceptible age groups will fall to a dangerous
level. It cannot be stressed too emphatically to parents and
responsible citizens the value of Diphtheria immunisation as a
necessary safeguard to the growing infant.
Unlike the general trend in the country, notifications of Pulmonary
Tuberculosis fell by 15 and the death rate was almost halved.
In recent years it has been usual for the death rate to diminish but
the incidence of the disease to remain more or less constant. This is
disturbing for it means that little, if any, apparent progress is being
made towards the eradication of the disease from the community,
although it is perhaps too early yet for definite conclusions to be drawn.