London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Hammersmith 1962
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hammersmith Borough]
This page requires JavaScript
10
(a)Population
For the first time since 1952 the Registrar-General's estimated population
shows a slight increase, the figure for 1962 being 108,120 which is 110 more than
the previous year's estimate but more than 2,000 less than the census figure.
| Year | Population | Excess of Births over Deaths | Year | Population | Excess of Births over Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1943 | 92,050 | 468 | 1953 | 117,600 | 543 |
| 1944 | 89,190 | 370 | 1954 | 116,500 | 705 |
| 1945 | 96,100 | 434 | 1955 | 114,700 | 462 |
| 1946 | 111,860 | 974 | 1956 | 113,300 | 529 |
| 1947 | 117,280 | 1,190 | 1957 | 111,700 | 657 |
| 1948 | 115,800 | 847 | 1958 | 110,200 | 786 |
| 1949 | 118,440 | 662 | 1959 | 108,900 | 767 |
| 1950 | 119,200 | 691 | 1960 | 108,290 | 1,007 |
| 1951 | 118,300 | 377 | 1961 | 108,010 | 1,017 |
| 1952 | 118,800 | 420 | 1962 | 108,120 | 1,079 |
(b)Births
The corrected number of births was 2,366 compared with 2,263 in 1961,
giving an annual rate of 21.9 per thousand of the population. The actual increase
in numbers of 103 was composed of 38 legitimate and 65 illegitimate births.
The increase in illegitimate births has continued unabated since 1955 when
the number was 133, comprising 7.8% of the total live births. This year the
number has increased to 368 and the percentage to 15.5.
5.842 births were registered in Hammersmith during 1962, comprising 3,028
males and 2.814 females. Queen Charlotte's Hospital had 3,270 births and Hammersmith Hospital 2,270; only 302 other births were registered.
Most of these births were in respect of non-residents, and these were transferred
to their home towns.
(c)Deaths
Deaths registered during the year numbered 1,445. From this figure must be
deducted 669 in respect of non-residents transferred to their home towns. To
counter-balance this must be added a total of 511 residents of the Borough who
died in other parts of England. This gives the corrected figure of deaths as 1,287.
comprising 686 males and 601 females.
It should be mentioned that of the outward transferable deaths, 612 occurred
in three of the large hospitals within the Borough.
Once again our death rate is increased by 13 deaths in hospital of patients
from such far-away places as Antigua. South Africa, Sierra Leone, Mombasa,
Ghana, Jamaica, Athens. Bombay and also France. Jersey and Norway.
The Registrar-General rules that where there is no place of residence in the
British Isles the authority for the area where death occurs accepts the death.