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1
REPORT
of the Medical Officer of Health
for the Year 1948.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors
of the Metropolitan Borough of Wandsworth.
Your Worship, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I beg to present my Annual Report on the Health of the
Borough and on the services administered during the year 1948.
Under the provisions of the National Health Service Act, 1946,
the Tuberculosis, Maternity and Child Welfare, Home Nursing and
Home Help Services, together with the administration of vaccination
and the clinics for the prevention of diphtheria, were transferred
to the control of the London County Council as from 5th July, 1948.
The officers employed in operating these services have also been
transferred.
For the purpose of the administration of these transferred services
the Boroughs of Wandsworth and Battersea have been combined
to form Division 9 of the London County Council area and
the headquarters of the Division have been set up in the Municipal
Buildings.
The health of the Borough in 1948 was good and there was no
unusual or excessive mortality during the year.
The population was 332,500, an increase of 2,300 over the
previous year.
The birth rate has fallen from 20.17 in 1947, the highest
recorded for 28 years, to 16.70.
The death rate has fallen from 12.35 for 1947 to 11.28.
The infantile mortality, at 31 per 1,000 births, is the same as
for 1947 and is the lowest ever recorded.
There were two maternal deaths, equivalent to a rate of .35
per 1,000 births.