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Public Health Department,
Town Hall,
Friern Barnet,
Middlesex.
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present my Annual Report
for the year 1957.
The year under review was once more relatively
uneventful. No epidemics or outbreaks of infectious
diseases occurred, apart from the usual biennial measles
visitation. The matter of infectious diseases will
be discussed in greater detail in the section of the report
dealing with prevalence and control.
The vital statistics were also satisfactory.
The birth rate fell very slightly, from 11.6 in 1956 to
11.2 in 1957. The death rate, apart from those deaths
which occurred in Friern Hospital, rose very slightly,
from 8.9 to 9.5. It is once again very satisfactory
to report that no maternal death occurred during the
year. Indeed only one maternal death has been recorded
in Friern Barnet within the past 11 years, during which
period 4,006 births have taken place. The Infant
Mortality Rate, i.e. the number of infants dying under
one year per thousand live births, was 3.1. representing
one infant death. This is, so far as we can ascertain,
by far the lowest figure yet recorded in Friern Barnet,
although it must be pointed out that statistics covering
only one year can be most misleading.
Health Education remains a feature of the
health services provided in Friern Barnet. Whenever an
invitation is received to give a talk to a local organisation
this invitation is gladly accepted. Articles on
matters relating to health continue to appear in the
local press, by courtesy of the editors, to whom I would
pay a most grateful tribute. The magazine "Better Health"
once again circulated throughout the district, the magazine
being provided by the Middlesex County Council. Use
is also made of posters, pamphlets and leaflets on a wide
variety of subjects relating to communal and personal
health. Particular mention must be made of the displays
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