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 1958
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kingston-upon-Thames]
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The number of deaths of infants under 1 year of age in
1958 is 8 which gives an Infant Mortality rate per 1,000 live
births of 14.9. The corresponding figures for 1557 were 7
infant deaths and an Infant Mortality rate of 12.8. The
approximate average rate for the previous five years (1953-57)
is 19.
There were no maternal deaths (i.e. from pregnancy,
childbirth, abortion).
These rates are very satisfactory and are not likely to
be bettered to any great degree in the future.
Causes of Death - The main conditions causing death during
1958 were Heart Disease - 147, Cancer - 91 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.
| 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M | F | M | F | M | F | M | F | M | F | |
| 16 | 2 | 24 | 4 | 21 | 1 | 10 | 6 | 23 | 2 | |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | ||||||
| Deaths from cancer of the lung and bronchus | 18 | 28 | 22 | 16 | 25 | |||||
Housing and Rehousing.
New houses provided by the Corporation during the year are
reported to be 63 flats, all built within the Borough. In
addition to this, 12 houses and 28 flats were built by private
enterprise, giving a total of 103 new housing units in Kingston.
Several families were assisted to be rehoused in new towns
and the Corporation quota in respect of rehousing in Primley
new town is to commence in 1959•
Very few houses remain in the Borough which, by the present
legal standard, may be classed as unfit. The next step forward
is the improvement of older properties, which are structurally
sound, by the provision of modern amenities such as baths, hot
water supplies and W.Cs. inside the houses. Outside sanitation
can no longer be considered adequate.
In touching upon the problem of the housing of old people,
consideration should be given to the provision by Local
Authorities of a greater proportion of dwellings specially for
the aged. It is not likely that private enterprise will enter
this field, and it must be borne in mind that year by year the
proportion of older people in the population is increasing and
that there will be a continuing need for special accommodation.