View report page

4
PREFACE.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors
of the Metropolitan Borough of Woolwich.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to submit the 45th Annual Report on the health of the
Metropolitan Borough of Woolwich, which, in common with the reports for the
years 1939-1944, is in an abridged form in accordance with the instructions of
the Ministry of Health.
The health services of the Borough were well maintained throughout the
year and no unusual outbreaks of illness occurred. There were no epidemics of
infectious diseases, except perhaps a mild one of Measles of which 1,052 cases
came to the knowledge of the Department. It is interesting to note that, since
the commencement of evacuation during the war, the regular biennial epidemics
of Measles, which were formerly general throughout London during the winter
and early spring, have been replaced by a varying number of cases each year,
spread mainly over the spring and summer months, with isolated cases during the
autumn and winter. There were fewer cases of Diphtheria and of Scarlet Fever
than in 1944; many of the latter were nursed at home owing to staffing difficulties
in the London County Council fever hospitals. There was only one death from
Diphtheria, one from Whooping Cough and one from Measles; there were no
deaths from Scarlet Fever. There was a slight increase in the number of notifications
of Tuberculosis, but a decrease in the number of deaths.
The population at the middle of 1945 as estimated by the Registrar-General
showed an increase of nearly 5,000 over that of 1944. The birth rate (17.5) was
lower than that of 1944 (18.3), as also was the death rate—12.8, compared with
14.5 for 1944. The infant mortality rate was 41, as compared with 40 in 1944,
and the maternal death rate was slightly higher—1.94, compared with l.43 in 1944.
A summary of vital statistics will be found in Table No. 1. Detailed causes of
death are shown in Table No. 2.
The year 1945-46 saw the end of bombing and of hostilities, both in Europe
and in the Far East. Consequently, the members of the staff of the Health
Department, many of whom had been engaged in Civil Defence to the final stages
and later in the winding-up of the First Aid and other medical Posts, devoted the
latter half of the year wholly to the health services. Although many members
of the permanent staff were still away, the health services, including those of
maternity and child welfare, physical medicine, and chiropody, were extended and
improved as conditions allowed.