London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
City of Westminster 1972
Report of the Medical Officer of Health
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| Westminster | Greater London | England & Wales | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 1971 | 1972 | 1971 | 1972 | 1971 | |
| Total deaths of infants under 1 year | 30 | 35 | ||||
| legitimate | 22 | 26 | ||||
| illegitimate | 8 | 9 | ||||
| Death rate of all infants under 1 year per 1,000 live births | 13 | 13.35 | 17.1 | 17.4 | 17.0 | 18.0 |
| legitimate infants per 1,000 legitimate live births | 12 | 11.98 | ||||
| Illegitimate infants per 1,000 illegitimate live births | 20 | 19.95 | ||||
| Total deaths of infants under 4 weeks | 22 | 22 | ||||
| legitimate | 16 | 16 | ||||
| illegitimate | 6 | 6 | ||||
| Neo-natal mortality rate (deaths under 4 weeks per 1,000 total live births) | 10 | 8,39 | 11.7 | 11.6 | 12.0 | 12.0 |
| Total deaths of infants under 1 week | 20 | 19 | ||||
| legitimate | 14 | 13 | ||||
| illegitimate | 6 | 6 | ||||
| Early neo-natal mortality rate (deaths under one week per 1,000 total live births) | 9 | 7.25 | 9.8 | 9.7 | 10.0 | 10.0 |
| Perinatal mortality rate (stillbirths plus deaths under one week per 1,000 total live and stillbirths) | 19 | 18.11 | 20.9 | 21.3 | 22.0 | 22.0 |
Details showing causes of infant death according to age group and sex are given in Table 2, page 61.
ACCIDENTAL DEATHS
Total deaths of residents from accidents
of all kinds 72 91
Deaths from motor vehicle accidents 30 27
The total number of deaths shown in Table 1, page 60, includes persons who, though normally resident
in Westminster, died elsewhere in England and Wales but excludes persons who, though they died in the
City, were ordinarily resident in other parts of England and Wales. Deaths of persons ordinarily resident
outside the borders of England and Wales are included in the figures if they occurred in the City, as also
are those of members of H.M. Forces who were stationed in the area.
INFECTIOUS AND OTHER NOTIFIABLE DISEASES
The incidence of infectious disease in the City, in general, continues to show a downward trend.
Notifications received (excluding tuberculosis) decreased from 368 in 1971 to 295 in 1972 due largely
to fewer cases of measles, 143 as compared with 190 in the previous year. (126 cases against 117 in 1970).
Table 3, page 62, gives details of notifications received and the age groups concerned.
Acute Poliomyelitis, Diphtheria and Smallpox
No cases of these diseases occurred in Westminster during 1972.
Dysentery
The decrease in the number of cases of dysentery observed in 1970 has been maintained. Nineteen
notifications were received during 1972 compared with twenty-five in the previous year. There were no
outbreaks of dysentery in any Hospital in Westminster or City Council Nurseries.
Infective Jaundice
Fifty-nine notifications (50) of Infective Jaundice were received during 1972, the fourth full year since
the disease became notifiable.