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To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors,
Metropolitan Borough of Holborn.
In accordance with the Ministry of Health Circular 13/47, this report on
the health of the Borough in 1946 has been prepared on abridged lines similar
to the Annual Reports during the war years. It will be seen from the report
that the year under review was a satisfactory one from the health point of view.
The birth rate of 14.06 per 1,000 of the population shows an increase on
the pre-war years.
The death rate was 13.78 per 1,000 of the population and compares very
favourably with the years from 1940, and the tendency has been for it to
improve for the last few years. It will be noticed that the birth rate has now
overtaken the death rate, but how long this will continue is a matter of conjecture
in a central London Borough.
The infant mortality rate was 40.27, and is considerably less than in the
previous year and lower than the rate for London as a whole. The Borough's
infant mortality rate will no doubt be still further improved as time goes by.
More use is being made of the facilities provided in the Council's. Maternity
and Child Welfare Centres, and it was consequently found necessary to increase
the number of sessions held towards the end of the year.
The Child Guidance Clinics which are held at the Centre made good
progress during the year. It has been found necessary to increase the number
of sessions, and to appoint a part-time Psychiatric Social Worker to assist the
Medical Officer of the clinic.
Reference is made in the report to the extended Home and Domestic Help
Scheme which got under way during the year and is serving a real need. It
was found necessary to appoint a social worker for this service. The service
is proving of value to the aged, infirm and the blind—persons who often live
alone and who, until the institution of the Domestic Help Service, usually had
to depend upon neighbours and friends to give them attention in time of need.
There was a marked prevalence of measles in 1946, as in 1945, but cases
of other infectious diseases were infrequent. Scabies continued to be prevalent.
The tabulated record of infectious diseases over the last 10 years has been
inserted in this report.
Diphtheria immunization has been continued, and the number of children
immunized in the Borough compares favourably with that of the rest of London.
This is gratifying in view of the pioneer work in diphtheria immunization
carried out by this Borough in the early stages.
The work of sanitary inspection was carried on under conditions complicated
by the restriction on building work and materials, and owing to these
restrictions it may be some time before the standard which one expects to find
in this Borough is again realised.