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BOROUGH OF WILLESDEN
Health Department,
54, Winchester Avenue,
Kilburn, London, N.W.6.
July, 1957.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors
of the Borough of Willesden.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I beg to submit the annual report of the health and sanitary circumstances of the borough for the
year 1956.
There has been a further slight decrease in the population but it is doubtful whether there has been
any appreciable reduction in the overcrowding in the borough. Judging from day nursery applications and
removals and housing inspections there is a continuous shift in population.
The birth rate has shown another slight rise. The proportion delivered in hospital has increased,
mainly due to the larger number of Willesden mothers delivered at the Central Middlesex Hospital. More
mothers have also been delivered at home.
The infant and general mortality showed a slight increase but there was a small reduction in the
stillbirth rate. The death rate for illegitimate children showed a marked increase but as the numbers are
small fluctuations in the rates from year to year are to be expected.
The range in infant mortality between the wards is still high, the rate for 1954-6 is over three times
as high in the worst ward compared with the ward with the lowest rate, again confirming the importance of
social conditions, particularly in causing deaths from infections and prematurity.
Representatives of the local authority, hospital and general practitioners have attended meetings to
discuss measures based on advice given by the Ministry of Health for reducing maternal toxaemia. Improved
antenatal care could also contribute to preventing infant deaths, but a reorganisation of the midwifery service
is necessary and the report of the Cranbrook Committee is expected to make recommendations.
There has been a slight increase in the general death rate but this is not unexpected since Willesden
has an ageing population. Heart disease and vascular lesions head the list, with coronary disease and angina
playing an important part. More research is required into the causation of coronary disease and the after-care
of patients, but already we have some knowledge of how to prolong life.
Cancer of the lung still remains the most important problem in the group of malignant diseases. It is
most difficult and often impossible to cure when a diagnosis is made. However, it is one of the easiest of
diseases to prevent. More and more evidence is accumulating which demonstrates the direct association
between smoking and cancer of the lung. The answer is therefore within the power of those threatened with
this dread disease. All they have to do is to give up smoking and remove this risk of their getting cancer of
the lung.
Bronchitis is still a major cause of death, and atmospheric pollution and work conditions contribute
to this. A very successful meeting was held by the Council in the Stonebridge area to discuss clean air in
Willesden, and the Clean Air Act, despite its limitations, was welcomed when it was passed in December, 1956.
The Council is considering the establishment of smokeless zones, but while power stations and railway depots
cause smoke nuisances in the area, it will be difficult to obtain improvement by concentrating mainly on the
domestic chimney. Still more research is required on the effect of dust and fumes at work and on methods for
eliminating hazards of this nature.
We are gradually winning the battle against tuberculosis and there has been a further reduction in both
the case and death rate. There are still marked differences between the various wards, and the worst ward has
rates more than twice those of the best one. There have been many talks on tuberculosis in the schools and
factories which have stimulated the public to play their part in conquering this disease. A higher proportion
of school leavers are being vaccinated, and a closer liaison with the two mass miniature radiography units
working in the district has ensured an improved supervision of factories where cases have occurred.
In general, health education has been practised widely in the borough. In particular, factories have
been visited and many interesting talks and discussions stimulated on various health subjects. 'Smoking and
cancer of the lung', 'How to stop smoking', 'Flu, coughs and colds', 'Tuberculosis', and 'Rheumatism' have
been the most favoured topics. An interesting innovation was an illustrated health talk given by Dr. Emrys
Davies, Education Officer of the Central Council for Health Education, to 800 children who attended a
Harlesden cinema on a Saturday morning.
There were no serious outbreaks of infectious diseases during the year. The number of cases of poliomyelitis
was low and there were no deaths. Poliomyelitis vaccination was carried out in May and June on some
of the children aged 2-9 years who had been registered. Less than 10 per cent. of all children registered were
vaccinated and it is difficult to assess the results. However, experience in other countries shows that the vaccination
is both safe and effective, and, as the public have become aware of this, more parents are applying
for vaccination.