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Health Office,
Gentleman's Row,
Enfield,
Middlesex.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the London Borough of Enfield.
I have pleasure in presenting my report on the health of the borough for the
year 1967.
This report follows the pattern set during the first year of the new borough.
The main sections of the report deal with the three major aspects of the work of
the department—personal health, environmental health, and school health.
The general trend revealed by the vital statistics is satisfactory showing a
reduction, compared with last year, in the death rate, infant mortality rate, neonatal
mortality rate and perinatal mortality rate. These compare favourably with
the national rates.
In keeping with the national figures the birth rate was somewhat lower than
last year but the illegitimate rate (6.8% of total live births) unfortunately was higher.
The number of deaths from diseases of the respiratory system showed quite a
marked reduction of 72, but deaths from diseases of the cardio-vascular system
showed an increase of 47, and deaths from cancer of all forms showed a very small
increase of two.
In the field of infectious disease control no outstanding events or alarming
incidents occurred. Several of the commoner infections showed reductions and there
were 12 fewer cases of respiratory tuberculosis and five less of other tuberculous
conditions. Measles was, once again, by far the most common notifiable infectious
disease but the hope of an effective vaccine for use in 1968 became a reality.
The considerable time and effort devoted to securing as healthy an environment
as possible may not be fully realised; nor is there apparently wide recognition of the
very large amount of work and skilled attention required to protect our food
supplies, by ensuring that all legislation dealing with food is used effectively to
achieve this end.
In the field of personal health, mention should be made of the new domiciliary
family planning service for the giving of contraceptive advice to families with
special need. Also, the progress in regard to the development of playgroups in
certain areas and social situations is of interest.
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