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5
LONDON BOROUGH OF CROYDON
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH
AND
PRINCIPAL SCHOOL MEDICAL OFFICER
FOR THE YEAR 1970
To the Chairman and Members of the Health and Public Services Control
Committee.
ladies and gentlemen.
In accordance with statutory requirements I present this report for 1970
on the health of the residents of the London Borough of Croydon, and comment
on a few of the matters covered later in greater detail.
Statistics
The birth rate was again slightly lower than in the preceding year. There
was a small increase in the infant mortality rate, due mainly to a sharp rise
in deaths of illegitimate infants. However, the percentage of illegitimate
births fell from the record of 11 in 1969 to 9. There was no death of a mother
in childbirth, but 1 death from abortion.
In comparison with 1969 the general death rate was lower, the number of
deaths from lung cancer in men unchanged, and for women fewer. In general
terms 1970 was an average good health year.
Health Centres
The difficulties associated with the adaptation of the Parkway Clinic were
not resolved until late in the year, when a revised building tender was accepted.
It was hoped that the Centre would begin operating in 1971. The purchase