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The birth rate in 195.1 showed a further decline. The
standardised death rate was higher due to an epidemic of influenza
with fatalities amongst elderly persons. There was another sharp
decline in the infant mortality rate from the record low figure of
last year. The improvement in mortality from tuberculosis was
also maintained.
As regards infectious diseases, the notifications of measles
were exceptionally numerous. Some part of the increase no doubt
relates to the readier availability of medical advice since 1948, but
the large number of school entrants due to high post-war birth
rates was also involved. All infectious diseases were mainly mild in
character, and high incidence did not result in any similar increase
in the number of fatal cases. Poliomyelitis cases were few compared
with previous years. The absence of a single case of
diphtheria is noteworthy.
The personal health services provided by the Corporation have
continued with few changes. Demands on the Ambulance Service
have maintained their tendency to increase despite all administrative
measures to lessen the burden. Delays arose in taking nonurgent
patients to and from hospital out-patient departments.
These journeys involve not only local hospitals, but any within the
Greater London area The cost of providing an individual vehicle
or an immediate response would be prohibitive. The essential
need to maintain an irreproachable accident and emergency service
means that rising costs' must be met from the purely transport side
of the work, if existing expenditure limits are to be observed.
The Council's policy of imposing an income limit for parents
requesting admission of their children to a Corporation Day
Nursery resulted in a marked fall in attendances and two nurseries
were closed.
The report of the Chief Sanitary Inspector shows how this
work of the Department, which relates to the earliest health duties
imposed on local authorities, retains its paramount importance.
Atmospheric pollution is not usually an outstanding problem in
Croydon, but valid complaints were received of nuisances due to
grit and water vapour from the electricity stations. The statutory
powers of the Corporation are restricted to ensuring the taking of
all practicable measures to abate such a nuisance and unquestionably
this was being done by the British Electricity Authority. It
was admitted that success had not been obtained, but further comprehensive
alterations were being carried out, which could not be
completed during the year under review.