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1
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors,
Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present my Annual Report for 1968.
Statistics
Each year during the life of the new Borough the Registrar
General's estimate of population has been slightly lower and at Mid
1968 it was reported as 144,480. The normal ten year census due in
1971 will confirm, or otherwise, this trend. The vital statistics
of the Borough compared favourably with the national rates. The
birth rate was marginally lower than the previous year and the
illegitimate birth rate at 7.5 per cent of total births was also
somewhat lower. The general death rate was below the national
average, but in keeping with it, slightly above 1967. Over 71 per
cent of deaths were in persons aged 65 years or over, and over 47 per
cent were in persons aged 75 years or over. Diseases of the heart
and arteries, and cancer, are still the principal causes of death.
I am pleased to report that the new Borough remains free of
maternal deaths.
There was a further slight increase in the number of deaths
from cancer of the lung, but a point of interest and possible
significance was an increase of 50 per cent in female deaths from
this cause.
Communicable Diseases
The position regarding communicable diseases was very
satisfactory. Attention is drawn in the appropriate section, page 19
to the changes in the notifiable infectious diseases.
Measles vaccination was commenced in May but it remains to
be seen to what extent the number vaccinated will affect the next
"epidemic" year.