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7
COUNTY BOROUGH OF EAST HAM
Public Health Department,
Town Hall Annexe, E.6.
October, 1947.
To the Worshipful the Mayor, The Aldermen
and Councillors of the County Borough of East Ham.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present my Annual Report as Medical Officer
of Health and School Medical Officer for the year 1946.
The report is comprised very largely of statistics, but these, with
the accompanying references, indicate the scope and measure of
success of the various health services of the Borough.
The Registrar General's estimate of the population—113,570—
shows a considerable increase over the previous year although,
according to my researches this figure is much exceeded.
Vital statistics are again very satisfactory. The birth rate—
22.69 per 1,000 live births—is the highost, and the. death rate—10.6
per 1,000 of the population—the lowest for many years.
The most outstanding feature, however, is the infantile mortality
rate—30 per 1,000 live births—which is the lowest in the history of
East Ham and compares favourably with that for England and
Wales for the period—i.e. 43 per 1,000.
The maternal mortality rate continues to fall and is reduced by
half in comparison with that of last year.
I submit that both these records reflect great credit on the
Council's Maternity and Child Welfare Services which, in order to
meet the exceptional demands, have been greatly augmented by
additional sessions and more medical and nursing attention.
The opening of the Emergency Unit at Aldersbrook for maternity
cases has provided the additional facilities so urgently required.
This attractive, well-equipped and adequately staffed hospital has
proved of inestimable benefit to mothers and admission has been much
sought after by them.
The incidence of infectious illness throughout the year, except
for measles, was remarkably low, and it will be seen that no deaths
occurred in respect of any of the common notifiable diseases.
The unification of the health visiting and school nursing staffs,
foreshadowed by recent legislation, was effected during the year and