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2
COUNTY BOROUGH OF CROYDON.
ANNUAL REPORT
of the
MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH
For the Year 1949.
S. L. WRIGHT, M.D., M.R.C.P., D.P.H.
To the Chairman and Members of the Health Committee.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present the 50th Annual Report on the
health of the people of Croydon and the relevant services of the
Corporation for the year ending December 31st, 1949.
This was a year during which the available statistics show no
marked changes. For the first time the Registrar-General's
estimate of the total population of the Borough just exceeds a
quarter of a million persons. The decline in the birth-rate continued,
the general and infant mortality rates were both a fraction
higher than in 1948, but the death rate from pulmonary tuberculosis
was considerably reduced.
1949 was the first complete year of working of the National
Health Service Act, 1946, and no great difficulties arose in so far
as the Corporation's duties were concerned. Three factors were
helpful.
Firstly, these duties are continuations or extensions of
services previously performed by County Borough Councils.
Secondly, there was no excess of illness during the winter
months. Thirdly, for some facilities which it provides, the Local
Health Authority has the power to recover charges assessed
according to the income of the recipients.