Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Bromley]
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11
To:
THE MAYOR, ALDERMEN AND COUNCILLORS OF
THE LONDON BOROUGH OF BROMLEY
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present a report for the year 1967 on the
services administered by the Health and Welfare Department of
the London Borough of Bromley. This report is set out to the
requirements of Ministry of Health Circular 1/67. In addition to
the factual information provided for the year under review, important
changes and trends in the fields of health, sociology and
environment are reported by the senior officers. To be of real
significance, these trends should be noted over a substantial period
of time and an advantage of the time factor in the preparation of
these reports is that members can rely on the validity of the
observations.
Statistics
I have collated from various sections of the report, facts which
reflect local and national experience and can stimulate much
thought and discussion on future policies.
(1) Birth Rate. The number of births in this Borough during
1967 was 0.9 per 1,000 lower than in 1966 and 1.4 per 1,000 lower
than in 1965. The figure of 15 births per 1,000 population is well
below that for Greater London (17.0) and England and Wales
(17.2).
(2) Maternal and Infant Mortality. There were no maternal
deaths and the Infant Mortality (16) per 1,000 births was lower
than Greater London (18.4) and England and Wales (18.3).
(3) Increasing Population with a density of 7.7 persons per acre.
(4) High Total Rainfall of 28.71 inches.
(5) Mortality of Cancer of the Lung shows little change over three
years, and that change is a decrease in preponderance of male over
female deaths.
(6) 395 children were injured, with 3 deaths, resulting from street
accidents.
(7) Increase in the percentage of admissions to residential homes
from hospitals and in respect of persons living alone.
(8) Percentage of admissions to residential homes of persons over
the age of 85 was higher than the national average (36% compared
with 27.5%).
National Health Service Act, 1946
Health Centres
During the year, a party of members and officers visited Bristol
and Hythe to obtain information on capital and revenue costs and