London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Kingston upon Thames 1956
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kingston-upon-Thames]
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Births- The number of live births for 1956 is 550 and
compares with 543 for 1955. The birth rate is 14.18 per 1,000
of population compared with 13.89 for 1955.
Deaths- The number of deaths recorded in 1956 is 442
compared with 424 for 1955. This makes a death rate of 11.39
for 1956 compared with 10.85 for 1955. The excess of births
over deaths was 108 compared with 119 for the previous year.
The number of deaths of infants under 1 year of age in
1956 is 13 which gives an Infant Mortality rate per 1,000 live
births of 23.64. The corresponding figures for 1955 were 8
infant deaths and an Infant Mortality rate of 14.73. The
approximate average rate for the previous five years (1951-55)
is 21.
With a smaller total population and an increased number
of infants dying it is inevitable that the rate will be higher.
Causes of Death- The main conditions causing death during
1956 were Heart Disease- 122; Caner2- 95; and Vascular
Lesions of the Nervous System-61.
National attention has been drawn in recent years to the
general increase in the number of deaths attributable to lung
cancer and its possible association with cigarette smoking.
The following table shows the relevant figures for the past five years in respect of Kingston residents. The Registrar General couples cancer of the lung with cancer of the bronchus in his abbreviated list of causes of death.
| 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M | F | M | F | M | F | M | F | m | F | |
| 10 | 1 | 13 | 2 | 16 | 2 | 24 | 4 | 21 | 1 | |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | ||||||
| Deaths from cancer of the lung and bronchus | 11 | 15 | 18 | 28 | 22 | |||||
Housing- During 1956 the Corporation completed 51 Housing
Units. These were 2-bedroom flats and all had to be constructed
outside the Borough. By private development 68 houses have been
completed in the Borough, of which 56 are flats on the Ham Farm
Estate. The Borough is almost completely built up and the work
of dealing with obsolete houses is being proceeded with at a
pace determined by the availability of suitable alternative
accommodation for displaced families.
Staff- Details of the staff of the Public Health Department
and the changes which have taken place throughout the year
are set forth on page 1.
I welcome the appointment of Dr. W.H. Kinstrie as Deputy
Medical Officer of Health occasioned by an extension of my own
responsibilities to include the duties of Medical Officer of
Health for the Borough of Surbiton as well as Divisional
Medical Officer, North Central Division, Surrey County Council.
The heavier strain placed on my own services has made it
necessary to retain an experienced public health doctor to be
made readily available to assist and deputise.