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Health Department,
Town Hall,
Hornsey, N.8.
To His Worshipful the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is my privilege to submit this Annual Report on the work of the
Borough and Area health services for the year ending the 31st December,
1957.
The mid-year population, as estimated by the Registrar General, was
96,890 compared with the figure of 97,220 for the previous year. Deaths
from all causes numbered 1,114, giving an adjusted death rate of 10.2
per thousand of the population. The total number of births was 1,570
which showed a rise in the birth rate from 13.9 to 16.2. Twenty-seven
infants died within the first year of life, giving a relatively low infant
mortality rate of 17.2 compared with the average for England and Wales
of 23 per thousand live births. An unfavourable feature, however, was
the sharp rise in the number of still-births from 28 to 39, giving a rate of
24.2 compared with the national rate of 22.4.
In general the standard of health in the Borough was well maintained
throughout the year. Threat of wide spread Asian influenza fortunately
did not reach the proportions forecast, though when it arrived in Hornsey
considerable absenteeism from its effects resulted in both child and
adult population.
Following past achievements to ensure clean water to drink and clean
food to eat, comes the much to be welcomed enabling legislation to
ensure clean air to breathe. Just how great a contribution the establishment
of smoke controlled areas will make to the health of the nation
may at first be difficult fully to assess; but it is certain that these new
control measures will have an early effect in reducing the risk of "smog"
as a major cause of respiratory diseases, in particular bronchitis in the
elderly.
Progress during the past year in the Campsbourne Redevelopment
Area saw a final stage in demolition of some of the worst property in
the Borough. Families from these worn out premises, with basement
dwellings subject to periodical floodings and permanent insanitary
conditions, are now being rehoused in new and attractive flats or houses
with many modern amenities. When fully redeveloped this new housing
estate with its appliances for burning smokeless fuel, will form the nucleus
of a future smoke controlled area.
In matters of health education the borough and area health departments
have closely co-operated, giving special attention to such subjects as
food hygiene, atmospheric pollution, prevention of accidents in the
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