View report page

4
COUNTY BOROUGH OF CROYDON.
ANNUAL REPORT
of the
MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH
For the Year 1956
To the Chairman and Members of the HeaLth Committee
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
I have the honour to present the Annual Report on the Heal
of the people of Croydon and the relevant services of theft
poration for the year ending 31st December, 1956.
From most aspects, it was a satisfactory year as far
statistics are concerned. The standardised birth rate rosec
the standardised death rate approached the lowest yet recordThe
infant mortality rate was a fraction below the best previareported.
The death rate from tuberculosis resumed its downs
trend and confirmed the expectation that sustained efforts «i
achieve the complete control of this disease within the ne
decade.
In 1930, Dr. Holden wrote about the inception of the Croji
obstetric service, made possible by the powers granted tot
Corporation under the Local Government Act 1929. The unity'
institutional and domiciliary midwifery with specialist advi
available at all times for any motherwasa far sighted scheme
advance of its time. The National Health Service Act, 13'
threatened its disruption. All concerned, however, resolved tl
it should continue and be improved despite the tripartite bas
of present control. It is an encouraging vindication of the
efforts to report a "nil" maternal mortality rate for 19S
when not one mother died through childbirth.
On the debit side of the year's accounts are increases
deaths from cancer and heart disease, the former showing
highest rate ever recorded. Age changes in the population are.
importance, but mortality from these causes in the 45 to 65 P
age group represents a challenge to be met by greater efforts: