View report page

PREFACE.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the Metropolitan
Borough of Lewis ham.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present the Annual Report for the year
1934 on the health and sanitary condition of the Borough, this being
the thirty-fourth of the series.
An examination of the statistical figures contained therein shows
that the health of the Borough is satisfactory. The corrected death
rate from all causes amounted to 10.1 per thousand of the population
compared with 10.2 in the previous year.
The Infant Mortality rate was 43 per thousand births, compared
with 39 in 1933. The rate for the County of London was 67 per
thousand births.
The birth rate was 12.2 per thousand, the same as in 1933.
The death rate from Pulmonary Tuberculosis was 0.58 per
thousand compared with 0.64 in the previous year.
There was an increase in the incidence of Scarlet Fever and
Diphtheria, 1,277 cases of Scarlet Fever being notified, compared
with 1,129 in 1933, and 473 cases of Diphtheria, as against 354 in
the previous year. The increase in the prevalence of these diseases
was general throughout the country.
During the year certain structural alterations and additions were
carried out to the Maternity Home, and plans for the erection of a
new Maternity and Child Welfare Clinic and Tuberculosis Dispensary
on the Priory Site were approved by the Ministry of Health.
The Council also decided to arrange for an extension of the
Maternity and Child Welfare services by providing an additional
session at the Downham Health Centre and by establishing an Infant
Welfare Centre in Brockley to relieve the congestion in the neighbouring
centres, and for the benefit of residents of the new blocks
of flats provided in that district by the London County Council for
the housing of families evacuated from slum areas.
Two additional Health Visitors, one for Maternity and Child
Welfare, the other for Tuberculosis, were appointed during the year
together with a junior clerk to assist in the work of the Care
Committee.
It is a pleasure to again record my appreciation of the kind consideration
accorded me by the Chairman and Members of the Public
Health and Maternity and Child Welfare Committees, and to thank
my colleagues, the Chief Officers of Departments, and the staff of
the Public Health Department, for their loyal support and assistance.
I am, Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
John W. Miller,
Town Hall, Medical Officer of Health.
Catford, S.E.6.