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1
To the Mayor and Members of the Council.
I have the honour to submit my annual report on the Health
and Welfare Services for 1366, this being the first complete calendar
year 3ince the inception of the new Royal Borough. The report has
been prepared in compliance with Circular 1/67 of the Ministry of Health.
Dr. A. &. Bailey was appointed Deputy Medical Officer of
Health in April and has been a valuable addition to the staff,
particularly to me after a very busy period of nine months without
a deputy.
The birth rate, death rate and infant mortality rate remained
below the national average, and there were no deaths of infants between
the seventh and twenty-eighth days of life. However, the perinatal
mortality rate, that is, the number of stillbirths and infant deaths
during the first week of life, was above the national average. There
was no apparent reason for this, and it is hoped that this will prove
to have been an isolated instance.
Of the 362 deaths from cancer, 101 (81 male and 20 female) or
27.9 per cent were attributable to cancer of the lung. Of 39 accidental
deaths, 23 involved motor vehicles. 15 suicides (9 male and 6 female)
were 8 fewer than in 1965.
There were fewer notifications of infectious diseases, mainly
because 1966 was a non-epidemic year for measles. The figures for
immunisation and vaccination were above the national average,and I should
like to thank the family doctors and our own medical officers and health
visitors for their efforts in obtaining these excellent results.
The work of the Environmental Health Section proceeded smoothly.
A second technical officer was appointed to assist with the large number
of premises to be dealt with under the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises
Act 1963. The availability of housing improvement grants was widely
publicised during the year.
As regards the Personal Health Services, a new infant welfare
clinic was started in September at St. Mary's Church Hall, Chessington,
to relieve the pressure on Hook Clinic and to reduce the travelling time
for mothers in the southern part of Chessington.
Miss F. I. Arnold, Superintendent Health Visitor, retired in
April and was replaced by Mrs. C. M. Owen, who has become an active
member of our health education team.