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Public Health Department,
Town Hall,
Wood Green N.22.
July, 1959.
To THE MAYOR, ALDERMEN and COUNCILLORS
Of the BOROUGH OF WOOD GREEN,
Mr. Major, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I beg to present the Annual Report of 1958,
The year 1958 was a placid year Indeed I did not find it
necessary to report any untoward occurrences to the Health and
Cleansing Committee during the year.
The vital statistics for the year are satisfactory The
birth rate fell slightly, from 13.2 to 12.9; while the death rate
rose from 9.6 to 11.3. The infant death rate, i.e. the number of
deaths of infants under one year of age per thousand live births
rose from 16.8 to 236 This rise may seem large but has little.
significance bearing in mind the comparatively small figures
involved These matters will be referred to in greater detail in
the body of the Report.
So far as infectious diseases were concerned the total
number dropped from 1.111 to 651. This of course was very
largely due to the marked decline in measles notifications, from
876 to 421 Infectious diseases will also be dealt with in greater
detail in the appropriate section of the Report.
During 1958 preparations were going on apace to deal with two
important aspects of the work of the Public Health Department In
the first instance there was the preparation for the two public
enquiries which have taken place this year in relation to the
clearance areas in Edith Road and the Winkfield Road/Acacia Road
areas The second task was the preparatory work which had to be
covered before action could be taken to prepare the way for the
Wood Green Smoke Control Area No. 1. Although it may be said that
these undertakings more properly come into the Report for 1959
much of the work was carried out in 1958 in readiness for action
to be taken when appropriate.
On January the 18th, 1958, the Health Department moved from
its old address at White Hart Lane Old School,where it had been
lodged for a number of years, to the more commodious accommodation
available in the new Town Hall. The transfer of offices was very
smoothly and speedily executed without any untoward disturbance or
inconvenience to the public, Needless to say the change to modern
well-planned premises, in the same building as the other departments
which carry out the work of the Borough Council, was and still is
very much appreciated.
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