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STO 44
METROPOLITAN BOROUGH OF STOKE NEW INGTON.
ANNUAL (ABRIDGED) REPORT.
of the
MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH.
for the Year 1943.
Public Health Department,
Town Hall, N, 16.
2nd October, 194-4.
To - The Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors
of the Metropolitan Borough of Stoke Newington.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
An abridged report concerning the health of the Borough during the year
1943, is herewith submitted.
It is satisfactory to report that after four years of war, the health of
the population has, as a whole, been good. Some anxiety was experienced during the
influenza outbreak at the end of the year - but the cases were, in general, mild
in nature and relatively few deaths were attributable to this disease.
Amongst factors contributing to the maintenance of the health of the
population are not only the efficient rationing scheme with its emphasis on
essential food stuffs at reasonable prices, but also the financial ability of
the population to buy the foods to which they are entitled. There is no doubt
that the war has raised the financial level of many of the poorer citizens and
has thus enabled them, in many cases for the first time, to buy sufficient suitable
food and thus to improve and maintain health. This, in my opinion, has been
sufficient to counterbalance the potential danger to health resulting from long
hours of work, poor ventilation and nervous strain.
It will be noticed that the live birth rate has risen from 16.6 per
1,000 civilian population to 20.1. This is the highest rate since 1921.
The infantile mortality rate has dropped from 45.1 to 41• 9 as
compared with London as a whole from 60 to 58 respectively. This low rate
reflects the care which is given to the babies by their mothers; by the
Council through its Maternity and Child Welfare Scheme and by the Ministry of
Food through its scheme for the priority supply of milk, vitamin preparations
and food, to expectant and nursing mothers and young children.
During the year, consequent upon comparative freedom from enemy action,
there was a steady return of the population to London. The Maternity and Child
Welfare Services were expanded to meet the demand and there was a considerable
increase in the number of attendances at the Council's Welfare Centres.
This return to London emphasised the great housing shortage which exists,
and many cases of overcrowding were brought to the Council's attention. Following
upon receipt of Ministry of Health Circular No. 2845 in August, 1943, steps were
taken to requisition vacant property for the rehousing of the inadequately
housed, and by the end of the year, 25 families had been rehoused under this
Scheme.
At the time of writing (September, 1944), the "Flying Bomb" attack on
London has caused a considerable deterioration in the housing position. Prompt
action, initiated by the Central Government, is required, if this is not to be
reflected in the health of the population.
In April, 1943, the Ministry of Health issued a circular providing for
the grant of maintenance allowances to certain persons suffering from pulmonary
tuberculosis. This was an important advance, and the scheme in London provided
for the actual payment to be made by the Metropolitan Borough Councils. The
scheme, taking into account its limitations, has worked well, but there is a
definite need for its extension to cover all cases of tuberculosis, both pulmonary
and non-pulmonary.