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3
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH
FOR 1950.
Town Hall,
Anerlby Road, S.E.20.
June, 1951.
To the Chairman and Members of the Urban District Council of Penge.
Mr. Chairman, Lady and Gentlemen,
I beg to present an Annual Report for the year ended 31st December, 1950,
which has been compiled in accordance with Circular No. 112/50 of the Ministry
of Health.
The Vital Statistics for the year continue to compare favourably with other
parts of the country.
Again it is noticeable that a high proportion of the deaths occurring in the
district were those of persons of 65 years of age and over. This large number of
elderly people has again presented many problems in providing for their care and
welfare, and it is gratifying to record the large amount of help given to them by
various voluntary organisations, especially in the provision of meals in their own
homes. Difficulty has been found in providing institutional treatment for those
who were unable to care for themselves at home.
Again, the value of diphtheria immunisation has been proved by the fact
that for the third year in succession no case of diphtheria was notified in Penge.
In spite of the prevalence of Poliomyelitis in England during the year, it is
gratifying to record that only four cases occurred in Penge.
During the early part of the year the Council adopted the Ministry of Food
model byelaws for clean food. This department invited the co-operation of all
traders in foodstuffs in applying the byelaws with satisfactory results, and it is with
some pleasure that I can report that only two cases of food poisoning were
notified, details of which are recorded elsewhere in this report.
STATISTICS AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS OF THE AREA.
Area (acres) 770
Population (Census, 1931) 27,771
Home Population, Mid-year 1950 (estimated by Registrar-General) 25,160
Rateable Value, 1st October, 1950 £199,028
Sum represented by 1d. rate £811