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VITAL STATISTICS
It is not possible to adopt a system of "costing" for the measurement
of health but some indication of progress can be obtained from a study
of vital statistics. By this measure the health of the people of Hornsey
is satisfactory and has shown steady improvement over many years but
the lack of "positive" health among many families can be assessed only
as a result of personal knowledge of the circumstances. The kind of
difficulties and mental strain borne by so many families may be illustrated
by the following quotation from a report on a Hornsey child:—
". . . no access to garden now. The grandparents are proving very
difficult and the 'atmosphere' in the house is very noticeable. The
father is under great mental stress and has treatment from his own
doctor. He looks ill and is not sleeping at night. The child is not
allowed to cry, because the grandparents are always insisting that it
is being neglected if it does."
Another problem arising partly out of the improvements in the vital
statistics is the increase in the proportion of old people in the population.
In Hornsey the Old People's Welfare Committee is doing excellent
work in easing the difficulties of many old people. Complaints and
requests for help are often received in the Health Department and considerable
time and energy is devoted to investigating the circumstances
of each case; it is sometimes difficult, and often impossible, to help in
the manner expected. A more accurate assessment of the immediate
and possible future needs of old people is required.
Area (acres) 2,872
Area of Parks and Open Spaces (acres) 576
Population: Registrar General's estimate at 30 June, 1954 98,210
Number of separately assessed habitable premises according
to Rate Books 24,896
Rateable value (General Rate)£1,081,950
Product of a penny rate £4,360
LIVE BIRTHS
M
F
Total
Legitimate
681
594
1,275
Illegitimate
47
33
80
728
627
1,355
Birth Rate (live births per 1,000 population)
Hornsey 13.8
Area Comparability Factor 0.92
Adjusted Rate For Hornsey 12.7
England and Wales (provisional) 15.2
Middlesex County (adjusted rate) 12.7
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