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3
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH
FOR 1948.
Town Hall,
Anerley Road, S.E.20.
July, 1948.
To the Chairman and Members of the Urban District Council of Penge.
Mr. Chairman, Lady and Gentlemen,
I beg to present an Annual Report on the health of the district for the year
ended the 31st December, 1948.
It is compiled in accordance with Circular 170 (1947) of the Ministry of
Health.
The report, in so far as the maternity and child welfare and ambulance
services, deals only with the period up to July 5th, when the responsibility for
their provision was transferred under the National Health Service Act, 1946 to
the Kent County Council and the Regional Hospital Board.
As expected, there was a drop in the birth rate but attendances at the
various clinic sessions remained at a high level. It is pleasing to note that the
death rate for infants under one year of age, constitutes a further low record for
Penge.
There was a great increase in the number of cases of measles notified,
but the epidemic was of a mild type.
No case of diphtheria occurred in the district during the year.
Whilst it has not been found necessary to take action under Section 47,
National Assistance Act, 1948, there were occasions when difficulty was
experienced in obtaining admission to institutions of aged persons suffering from
chronic illness, and in need of care and attention.
STATISTICS AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS OF THE AREA.
Area (acres) 770
Population (Census, 1931) 27,771
Civilian Population mid-year, 1948 (estimated by Registrar-General) 24,710
Rateable Value, 1st October, 1948 £192,559
Sum represented by 1d. rate £785
The Manager of the Employment Exchange informed me that there were
130 persons unemployed in the Penge Urban District at the end of the year.