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To The Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors
of the Metropolitan Borough of Paddington.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present to you the Annual Report of the
Medical Officer of Health for 1960, in accordance with Regulations
5 (3) and 15 (5) of the Public Health Officers' Regulations, 1959.
(1) Vital Statistics
The Infant Mortality Rate (total infant deaths per 1,000 total
live births) shews a slight increase over last year (26 cf. 22 in 1959).
It is however the continued high Perinatal Mortality Rate (stillbirths
and deaths under one week per 1,000 total live births) of 35 which
gives cause for concern. During the last decade the perinatal rate
has remained almost stationary throughout the whole country.
About one-third of these deaths are due to prematurity, which
indicates the importance of still further efforts to reduce the loss of
infant life from this cause.
During the last three years we have received notifications of 8
deaths from pregnancy, childbirth and abortion. It is grievous to
record that 5 of the 8 deaths were occasioned by abortion.
(2) Infectious Disease
The incidence of infectious disease in the Borough again
remained low throughout the year. In this context I must refer to
the highly successful immunisation campaign conducted by the
London County Council covering Diphtheria, Poliomyelitis,
Smallpox, Whooping Cough and Tetanus. The figures relating to
inoculations carried out during the year among Paddington residents
are contained in the body of the report.
The only infectious disease to which 1 should draw your special
attention is the notification of 138 cases of Puerperal Pyrexia. This
is because of the concentration of the maternity beds for the area in
the Borough of Paddington. Indeed, only 62 of the 138 cases
notified were Paddington residents.
(3) Staff
In 1957 the Public Health Committee agreed that, as a result of
the serious shortage of Public Health Inspectors, a scheme should
be inaugurated whereby students should be appointed and opportunities
afforded them for training as Public Health Inspectors.
Accordingly, four trainees were appointed. Miss A. Gallimore,
Messrs. K. G. Mahers, R. C. Morton and J. W. Starr.
At the time of writing, I am very pleased to record that all these
students have now, not only qualified as Public Health Inspectors,
but have also subsequently passed the Meat and Other Foods
examination. This is a particularly gratifying achievement as the
examinations are most searching, with a pass list of only about 50
per cent. Unfortunately the inspectorate is still four below the
establishment with consequential repercussions on the work of the
department. Three other students have been added to the staff, and
I hope in due course they will qualify as Public Health Inspectors.