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3
INTRODUCTION TO THE ANNUAL REPORT, 1953
The population of the County at mid-year 1953 was estimated by the Registrar General
to be 3,343,000, a decrease of 20,000 as compared with the previous year. The constantly
increasing proportion of elderly people is referred to on page 5. The live birth rate
(15.2 per thousand population) was slightly lower than in the previous year (15.3) and
the decline in the birth rate since 1948, though continuing, is tending to slow down.
7.1 per cent. of the total live births were illegitimate and is the highest figure recorded
since 1946 although reasons for doubting this figure as indicating the true illegitimate
fertility rate in London are referred to on page 7.
The death rate was somewhat lower this year as compared with last year (11.6 per
thousand as against 12.0) and it is pleasing to record that for the first time on record there
were no deaths from diphtheria. The death rate from cancer (2.34 per 1,000) continues
to increase and to constitute the second leading cause of death in London and the effect
on this rate by variations in the age constitution of the population is referred to on page 9.
Deaths due to violent causes, which during 1953 totalled 1,437 as compared with 1,363
in 1952, continue to give rise to much anxiety. Amongst those deaths many preventable
fatal accidents are still occurring in the home apart from the much larger number of
non-fatal accidents and the activities of the department are being directed towards the
prevention of home accidents as constituting a major public health problem. The infant
mortality rate in 1953 was 23.9 per 1,000 live births compared with 26.8 for England
and Wales and the corresponding neo-natal rates (deaths in the first four weeks of life)
were 16.1 and 17.7 respectively. Prematurity was again the major single cause of death
in the first four weeks of life.
The number of confirmed cases of poliomyelitis (332) was slightly higher than in
1952 (309) but was considerably lower than for the epidemic years of 1947, 1949 and
1950.
The fall during recent years in the death rate from tuberculosis was maintained
during 1953 and this, paralleled by the decrease in the notifications of new cases, gives
grounds for encouragement.
The incidence of dysentery, influenza and whooping cough (pages 17, 18 and 22,
respectively) was relatively high during the year.
Many of the services at the Woodberry Down Health Centre were extended and
new services commenced, including the inauguration of a general medical practitioner
service. Details about these services will be found on page 135.
The expansion of the London Ambulance Service which has continued year by year
since the inauguration of the National Health Service and the training of the operative
staff in Civil Defence duties are referred to on pages 79 and 83.
The attendances at child welfare centres continue to give grounds for satisfaction and
it is pleasing to note that the percentage of infants attending a centre at least once in the
first year of life rose to the highest recorded figure of 85, and that first home visits of
health visitors to children under one year was equivalent to 90 per cent, of the total
live births.
The success of the experiment in establishing a special welfare clinic for backward
children under five led to a decision to inaugurate more clinics (page 98).
Further evidence of the growing co-operation with other parts of the National
Health Service which was dealt with more fully in the 1952 Report, will be found on
page 59.
Further progress was made during the year in co-ordinating the efforts of statutory
and voluntary bodies interested in the prevention of child neglect and ill-treatment and
reference is made to this matter on page 61.
Increased charges for attendance at day nurseries were introduced from 1st January,
1953, and their effect on the occupation of the nurseries and the decision to extend the
priority groups to enable vacancies not required for children in the first and second