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11
selective in these prefatory remarks. A decrease in deaths from
heart disease was more than offset by those from cancer, cerebrovascular
and respiratory causes, the latter probably influenced by
the influenza outbreak in 1969/70. Although the infant mortality
rate rose, this was counter-balanced by a 40 per cent reduction in
stillbirths which accounted for lower peri-natal and reproductive
wastage rates. For the first time since 1965 there were no maternal
deaths. Infectious disease notifications fell by 37 per cent, mainly
as a result of a reduction in the incidence of measles. Tuberculosis
notifications are still falling. The year saw a welcome increase in
cervical cytology and breast examinations and it is hoped that, by
a process of encouragement and publicity, greater numbers of vulnerable
women will avail themselves of this service.
All the statistics relating to the personal health services show
substantial increases. For example, the number of playgroup places
for children in the 1 - 4 age group is now 954 (an increase of 125)
and 768 children are now minded with registered childminders (an
increase of 146). Together, these two services now provide one
place for every 8 children in the Borough between the ages of 1-4
and this does not include nursery school places provided by the
ILEA, nor the occasional creche facilities at various welfare clinics.
By any standard, this is a fair performance. Home nursing, health
visiting, recuperative holidays and home helps all show substantial
increases. Indeed, home nursing cases show an increase of over
60 per cent since 1965 and patients now being provided with home
helps are 2½ times as many as in 1965. There are few authorities
who can match this record.
In the field of community care, the achievements are equally
impressive. A rise of 8 per cent in the number of physically
handicapped people registered is an indication of the Directorate's
efforts to ensure that most persons in this category are known
before the full operation of the Chronically Sick and Disabled
Persons Act. During the year, the new 60-bed home "Bryceson",
with a special care unit for 16 elderly, was opened. The Halstow
Road Lunch Club and Day Centre was re-opened after extensive
renovation and the Day Centre at Elmgrove was completed. In
this review of progress we must also make reference to the
schemes which are well advanced and will be ready in 1971. The
combined centre at Well Hall, providing 30 places for the mentally
ill and physically handicapped; St. John's Park hostel with 20/21
places for mentally handicapped adults; a 50-place day nursery at
Greenwich District Hospital, which is to be managed, staffed and
equipped by the Borough Council; a new and extensive cold store
is being provided at the central stores in Shooters Hill Road for
the bulk storage of frozen foods; an extension of the workshop