London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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East Ham 1961

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for East Ham]

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5
COUNTY BOROUGH OF EAST HAM
Tel: - GRAngewood 1430
TO: THE WORSHIPFUL THE MAYOR,
THE ALDERMEN AND COUNCILLORS OF
THE COUNTY BOROUGH OF EAST HAM
Public Health Department,
Town Hall Annexe,
East Ham, E.6.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present my report for the years 1960, 1961 and to point at once to the
continued decline in population by 740 to 109, 160 in 1960 and 3,690 to 105,470 in 1961. However, these
figures should not be viewed in isolation but considered rather, in a more synoptic statistical survey. Thus
we see that in 1955 there were 116, 100 people living in 31, 910 houses and the birthrate was 12.4, whereas
to-day we find 105,470 occupying 32,480 houses, and the birth rate a fair index of social security has risen
to 15.8 per 1,000 population.
In fact despite the fall in population, the number of births has risen from 1,441 in 1955 to
1,686 in 1960 and 1634 in 1961.
It is pleasing to observe also that the infantile mortality rate has fallen to 14.7 per 1,000
live births which is only one third the figure for 1943 and reflects the great progress made in the preservation
of child life in the first year after birth. The same observation can be made in regard to the care of
expectant and parturient women in that no woman died of puerperal sepsis and in each of the years under
review only one mother died from causes associated with parturition.
Venereal Disease
In various parts of the country a marked increase in the incidence of venereal disease especially
amongst young persons has caused considerable concern. It was feared that this riparian community with
its indigenous 'youth problems' and influx of certain coloured people would share in the national upsurge of
venereal disease, but happily this has not proved to be the case and the figures for these conditions show a
marked decline on those for 1952.
Day Nursery Service
The era of the 'Welfare State' coupled with 'full employment is well reflected in the declining
use made by the burgesses of the day nursery service. In 1950 the Council provided 293 places in four day
nurseries for the reception of children in the approved categories and at the end of that year 257 names of
children still in need of the service remained on the register. In 1960 only one day nursery with 74 approved
places remained open, but 61 children required the service, and by the end of 1961 52 names remained on
the register and the daily average attendance throughout the year had fallen to 44.
It was abundantly clear that the time had come for the review of this social service which for
a variety of reasons had quietly run down and was no longer a pressing social necessity.
Cancer of the Lung

I feel it my duty again to bring this matter into a prominent place in my report

YearTotal DeathsCancer deaths (all forms)% of total deathsDeaths from Cancer of Lungs% of total deaths
1950130424818.2547 (includes 9 females)3.60
1961121429123.9784 (includes 15 females)6.91