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PREFACE
TO THE MAYOR, ALDERMEN AND COUNCILLORS OF THE
ROYAL BOROUGH OF KINGSTON-UPON-THAMES.
ANNUAL REPORT,, 1955
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present the Annual Report on the
public health and sanitary circumstances of the Borough for
1955. The Report is on a similar pattern to that for
previous years and follows the general lines indicated by
the Minister of Health. The information is given on
essential matters affecting the public health and the
Report is in accordance with Ministry of Health Circulars
17/55, 1/54 and 42/51.
I am indebted to Mr. G.C. Smith, Senior Sanitary
Inspectors, for joint authorship of the Report with special
reference to Sections C - E and to Mr. M,E. Powell, Chief
Clerk, for assistance in drafting and compiling.
Population - The estimated mid 1955 home population
given by the Registrar General is 39,070 estimated
decrease of 90 persons compared with 1954. It is necessary
to indicate that this figure relates to the resident
population of the town and has been used for the calculation
of the statistical data now presented,, The actual day
population has been estimated to be about 300,0Q0 persons
who come to the town for business, education and recreation
purposes. This is a special feature of the town and
influences its importance and the volume of work and responsibility
of the Public Health Department,
The level of resident population has remained
remarkably constant during the past 30 years. At the 3
Censuses in 1921P 1931 and 1951 the respective populations
were 39,514, 39,825 and 40,172. At the time of the latter
census 68% of the population were in the age group 15-64
and 1395 were aged 65 or over. The percentage for the 65
and over group has increased.
Infectious Disease - In general the health of the
people has been very good. The number of infectious
disease notifications received in 1955 was 307„ which is
262 lower than in 1954• This drop was mainly due to a
considerable decrease in the incidence of measles and
puerperal pyrexiae A reduction in the number of cases of
scarlet fever is again recorded and there has been a
further drop in the number of cases of whooping cough with
the lowest figure since notification commenced in 1940.
No case of diphtheria was notified and further
progress was made in the active immunisation of the child
population against this deadly and disabling disease,
There was an increase in the number of cases of
Poliomyelitis compared with previous years,, There was no
undue incidence of influenza during the early months of
1955 but a close watch was maintained over the statistics
so that any special action could be undertaken if
necessary.