View report page

1
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors,
Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames.
I have pleasure in presenting my report on the Health and
Welfare services in the Royal Borough for 1967, this being the third
annual report.
Statistics
The birth rate is again lower in line with a national decline,
and remained below the national average. The infant mortality rate was
again well below the national average. I am pleased to report that
the perinatal mortality rate which showed an inexplicable rise in 1966
returned to nearer the 1965 rate, also below the national average. The
general death rate was the same as the previous year and marginally below
the national average. Just over 72 per cent of deaths were in persons
aged 65 and over.
There was a slight increase in the number of deaths from cancer
of the lung, which formed 28.4 per cent of cancer deaths.
Communicable Diseases
1967 showed the usual biennial increase in measles, the
outbreak having started in the autumn of 1966. By the end of the year
it was expected that a measles vaccine would become generally available
early in 1968.
General Services
Health education showed continued progress and there was a
general expansion in all sections of the work. The first health
education officer to the borough was appointed on 1st September. A
highly successful health exhibition was held in Chessington in November,
aimed at the youth of the borough, and co-operation continued with the
Kingston Hospital Postgraduate Education Committee in arranging lectures
in Kingston Medical Centre.
Personal Health Services
The number of children cared for in private day nurseries and
by child minders registered under the Nurseries and Child Minders Regulation
Act 1948 increased during the year. It was decided to offer a course of
12 lectures to persons in charge. The response was so great that two