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Old Town Hall,
Fulham Broadway,
London, S.W.6.
Tel No. 01 385 1212
The Mayor Aldermen and Councillors of
the London Borough of Hammersmith.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH ANNUAL REPORT 1970
INTRODUCTORY LETTER
I have the honour to present the Annual Report of the Medical Officer
of Health and Director of Community Services of the London Borough of
Hammersmith.
INTRODUCTION:
With the agreement of the Inner London Education Authority, a report
on the School Health Service in the Borough during 1970, which has been
submitted to the Education Authority by your Medical Officer of Health in
his capacity as Principal School Medical Officer, is included in this
Annual Report. Similarly, as your Medical Officer of Health in his
capacity as Director of Community Services had, during 1970, responsibility
for the Welfare and Children's Services, reports on these services are also
set out.
VITAL STATISTICS:
The Registrar-General's estimate of the population of Hammersmith, as
at mid-1970, was at 187,980, some 4,830 less than the estimate for 1969,
a year in which there was an estimated reduction in population of the same
otder. Both the live and still birth rates showed a slight reduction in
1970, as compared with 1969, as did the percentage of total births which
were illegitimate. 185 of Hammersmith residents died during 1970 from
bronchial carcinoma, the figure for the previous year being 189. In recent
years one has compared these figures with the deaths from pulmonary
tuberculosis which numbered nine and seven respectively. The number of
deaths from tuberculosis has been substantially reduced since the advent
of specific therapy. The means to substantially reduce the number of
deaths from bronchial carcinoma are also available. Why then are preventive
measures not adopted?
INFECTIOUS DISEASE:
Since the inception of the London Borough of Hammersmith, the
number of cases of measles notified each year has been as follows:-
1965 - 1907; 1966 - 1233; 1967 - 1075;1968 - 496; 1969 - 410; 1970 - 624.
Immunisation against measles was brought into general use in Hammersmith
during 1968, and there has been a redution in the incidence of the
disease as notified since that time. The latest figure is disappointing
because the occurence of measles, which causes significant morbidity
particulary in younger children, could be reduced even further if more
children were given advantage of this vaccine which is freely available.
The incidence of food poisoning also remains too high and this fact underlines
how^essential the activities of the Chief Public Health Inspector, the Food
Inspectors and the Public Health Inspectorate continue to be in relation