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10
Births.
The number of births in the last three-quarters of the year was an
appreciable rise on the earlier figures, though less than those of 1947.
The number of live births 3,934 is the largest ever recorded for the
district, the previous record being 3,500 in 1943. The local rate per
thousand population was 18.7 compared with the figure of 19.1 for the
country as a whole. Over the last few years the local rates have ranged
from 14.7 recorded in 1941 to a figure of 18.7 in 1944.
Deaths.
1,816 local residents died during the year, a death rate per thousand
population of 8.6. This is a fall on the almost constant rate of 9.1
obtaining since 1940, but is still appreciably higher than the pre-war
rates, a factor attributable probably to the influx of a number of the
elderly. The fact that the rate is so much lower than that of the country
as a whole, the national rate being 11.5, must be ascribed less to the
general healthiness of the district than to the age constitution of the
population being one favourable to the lower rates. The actual number
of deaths is an increase on the 1,732 of the previous year; the fall in
the death rate in spite of this being due to the greater population at
risk. The actual number is nearly the highest figure ever reached, that
of 1,818 in 1942.
Of the 1,222 deaths in the district 106 were of non-residents. 22
took place in the various hospitals, 20 in nursing homes (this figure
including 6 newborn babies), and 6 in Oxhey Grove, a home for the
elderly.
Of the 690 deaths of local residents which occurred outside the area
most took place in institutions, 266 being in Redhill Hospital, 22 at
Redhill House and 76, including 7 newborn infants, at other county
institutions. Five deaths occurred in institutions for the treatment of
the tuberculous. 81 deaths took place in hospitals just outside the
district, including 40 at Mount Vernon and 4 in isolation hospitals.
117 died at various of the London hosDitals.