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REPORT
of the Medical Officer of Health
for the year 1956
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors
of the Metropolitan Borough of Wandsworth
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Once again it is a pleasure and privilege to present to you the
Annual Report on the health and sanitary conditions of the Borough
for the year 1956. As usual, the report is mainly statistical with
comments on the figures as may be necessary.
In 1956, the increase in the population which had been noted in the
previous year was continued, the year end population of Wandsworth
being 337,600 showing an increase of 1,100. As I have mentioned
in previous reports, this increase is associated with the new
Housing estates which are going up in the Borough, particularly in
the Southfields and Roehampton areas. The crude birth rate for 1956
was 14.25 which was an increase over the previous year, while the
adjusted death rate was 10.89, being three points lower than that
for 1955. The infant mortality rate, that is to say, the number of
infants who died before reaching their first birthday per 1,000 live
births was 17. This is the lowest figure ever recorded in Wandsworth
and is two points lower than the previous low record which was
achieved in 1954. The infant mortality rate is usually looked upon as
a fairly accurate index of the public health and social status of a community
and this low figure can be taken as an indication of the
gradually improving public health and social circumstances of the