View report page

HEALTH COMMITTEE
At 31st December, 1949.
THE WORSHIPFUL THE MAYOR (Councillor E. H. Reeves, j.p.)
Councillor Mrs. E. Brooks (Chairman)
Alderman Mrs. J. R. Whiting (Vice-Chairman)
Alderman—
L. A. Heath
Councillors—
T. G. Blann
G. S. Dean
A. H. Gilder, m.b.e., j.p.
Mrs. A. E. Maxwell
Mrs. E. R. M. Middleton
Mrs. D. M. Munns
D. J. O'Byrne
G. E. Offord
D. S. Ramsey
Mrs. K. M. Rance
D. S. Ritchie
D. P. Walsh
PREFACE
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors
of the Metropolitan Borough of WoolmIch.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to submit the Forty-ninth Annual Report on the health
of the Metropolitan Borough of Woolwich. The Report is prepared along the
lines indicated by the Minister of Health.
I am pleased to state that during 1949 the general health of the Borough was
maintained at a satisfactory level.
There has been a steady increase in the population of the Borough since 1944 ;
the Registrar-General's estimate of the civilian population in mid 1949 was 144,000,
being an increase of 1,200 on the 1948 figure. The total population, i.e., civilians
and non-civilians, is now estimated to be 149,200.
An examination of the vital statistics shows that the birth rate (17.4) continues
to fall from the post-war maximum rate of 22.8 in 1947, but nevertheless the rate
for the Borough is higher than at any time between the years 1927 and 1941.
The death rate (10.9) is the lowest for Woolwich since 1938 (10.4) and compares
very favourably with that for England and Wales (11.7) and for the Administrative
County of London (12.2).
It is pleasing to record an infant mortality rate of 28.7, which is the second
lowest rate for the Borough. In 1949 there have been fewer deaths in Woolwich
of children under one year than during any of the preceding seven years.
For the fourth year in succession the maternal mortality rate was less than
5 per 1,000 births.
The incidence of infectious disease was again low. Notifications showed a
marked decrease in numbers with two exceptions, those of tuberculosis and poliomyelitis
(infantile paralysis). Tuberculosis is still a great social problem. However,
in Woolwich, whilst there is no room for complacency, there has recently been a
substantial drop in the number of deaths from this disease. This decrease became
much more apparent in 1949, i.e., there were 59 deaths in 1949 compared with 82
in 1948 and 101 in 1947, giving a death rate from tuberculosis of .41, compared
3