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3
CITY OF WESTMINSTER
Telephone: Health Department,
01 -828 8070 City Hall,
Victoria Street,
London, S.W.1.
To The Right Worshipful The Lord Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the City of Westminster.
My Lord Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors,
I have the honour to present for your information my Annual Report on matters affecting the health
of the City of Westminster in the year 1969. As in previous years, comparative statistics have been
included either as a separate column in the various tables or in parentheses in the text.
Since the new City of Westminster was formed in 1965 there has been a steady decline in the
population - from 266,770 in 1965 to 240,360 in 1969. The number of births has also decreased,
from 3,952 in 1965 to 2,899 in 1969. During 1969 there was a fall in the number of illegitimate births
although this, in fact, resulted in a rise in the illegitimacy rate.
Although the number of infant deaths rose sharply, from 49 in 1968 to 65 in 1969, it will be seen
from the figures given below that this is still less than the average for the five year period even
allowing for the abnormally low figure in 1968. Elsewhere in this report an analysis is made of the
causes of these infant deaths. It should be noted that 28 deaths were due to conditions related to
prematurity and 18 to congenital malformations. Only 5 deaths occurred as a result of the process of
birth and 12 as the result of conditions arising after birth. The death rate of illegitimate infants was
more than double that for the previous year, but when the figures for the five year period are examined
no definite trend is apparent.
There were two maternal deaths, reference to which is also made in the text of the report. The
actual numbers and rates for the years 1965-1969 are summarised below. It must be borne in mind
that the numbers from which these rates are computed are small and that fluctuations are bound to
occur from year to year.
1965 1966 1967 1968 1969
Illegitimate births per cent of total live births 18.59 18.57 18.82 16.69 17.63
Deaths of infants under 1 year 74 83 75 49 65
Infant death rate 18.72 22.73 21.13 15.41 22.42
Illegitimate infants death rate 21.77 41.29 34.43 15.06 39.14
Maternal deaths 3 1 1 — 2
In each of the reports since 1965 opportunity has been taken to deal in detail with the work of a
section of the Department. In 1965 a general resume was made of the local authority health services
in Westminster following reorganisation of London Government; the 1966 report dealt in detail with
the work performed by the Health Department social workers, whilst the 1967 report featured the
Council's mental health service. My report for the year 1968 covered the work of the public health
inspectors in the food section. Opportunity has been taken in this report to deal with the City
Council's medical and nursing services, with particular reference to the work of the medical officers
and developmental paediatrics.
Turning next to staff matters, it is with regret that I record the death of the City Council's Chief
Dental Officer, Mr. R. E. Kean, who fell ill in July 1969 and died in April, 1970. Mr. Kean had joined
the City Council's service in July 1965 and had built up the local authority dental service of which
the City Council can justifiably be proud. During his long illness his duties were undertaken by the
Senior Dental Officer, Mr. D. K. Hardy, who had joined the Department's staff only a short time prior
to Mr. Kean's illness. It is therefore all the more commendable that he took over the duties and
responsibilities with commendable skill and efficiency. It is my pleasure to be able to record that in
July 1970 Mr. Hardy was appointed to the position of Chief Dental Officer.