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Public Health Department,
Town Hall,
Upper Street, N.1.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the Metropolitan Borough of Islington.
I have the honour to submit the Annual Report for 1942, which is an
interim report as directed by the Ministry of Health.
Total Population figures are not quoted, but the vital statistics of the
Borough furnish, in the main, a satisfactory picture, particularly for the fourth
year of the War.
There is a considerable decrease in the death rate and an increase in
the birth rate over the previous year.
The infant mortality rate at 54 per 1,000 live births shows a small
decrease as compared with 1941, and it is of some interest to note that the mortality
rate of 56 per 1,000 for illegitimate births is only very slightly higher than for
all births.
The tendency to an increase in Tuberculosis noted in 1941, is still a
matter of some concern. During the past year the rate for new cases of pulmonary
tuberculosis was 35% higher than in 1938, and 40% higher for non-pulmonary cases.
The death rate for pulmonary tuberculosis has increased by 29% over 1938 and for
non-pulmonary tuberculosis by 66%. The pulmonary tuberculosis figures are more
favourable than for 1941, but the non-pulmonary figures are less favourable,
although in the letter class the total numbers involved are comparatively small.
Deaths from other violent causes were considerably lower.
Maternity & Child Welfare work has increased in every way since 1941 and
each of the Welfare Centres has had to open additional ante-natal children clinics.
Increasing employment of women in industry has meant an ever-growing demand for the
provision of Day Nursery accommodation for the children of women in war work and in
1942 a further 7 War-time Day Nurseries were opened, making 8 in all, and providing
accommodation for 403 children. In addition, the Borough Council arranged to cooperate
with the Regional Welfare Office of the Ministry of Labour and National
Service in operating a scheme for the registration of Daily Guardians. This grew
to considerable dimensions by the end of the year.
The Council's Cleansing Station dealing with Scabies and other verminous
conditions was greatly extended in 1942 by the doubling of its previous accommodation.
The Public Health Committee appointed a state registered Nurse in Charge and
additional attendants, including male attendants, were engaged.
Diphtheria Immunisation made considerable progress in 1942. Towards the
end of the year Health Visitors, both Borough Council and Voluntary Welfare Centre,
commenced work on the special campaign requested by the Ministry of Health to
encourage immunisation in children under 5 years of age by intensive home visiting.
The attendances at Clinics showed a very great increase over 1941 which was itself
a record year for the Borough.
With regard to the staff, the Chief Clerk, Mr. W. J.Wolfe, retired after
48 years service and Messrs. George, Edis, McAdam, Owen and Causton of the
permanent staff left during the year to join His Majesty's Forces. There were also
many changes among the temporary staff.
My thanks are again due to Dr. K.M.Hirst, Deputy Medical Officer of
Health and to all members of the staff, both permanent and temporary, of the Public
Health Department.
I also desire to thank the Chairman and Members of the Public Health
and Maternity & Child Welfare Committees for their continued understanding of the
difficulties of the department brought about by war-time circumstances and their
consideration in all matters.
V. FREEMAN.
Medical Officer of Health
December, 1943.