View report page

1
ROYAL BOROUGH OF KINGSTON UPON THAMES
ANNUAL REPORT
of the MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH
and
PRINCIPAL SCHOOL MEDICAL OFFICER
for the year 1971
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have pleasure in presenting my seventh annual report on
the health of the citizens of the Borough and the health services
provided.
This year the report is divided into four sections only:
vital statistics and general services, personal health, environmental
health and school health. The welfare services, mental health services
and some other erstwhile health services were transferred to the new
Social Services Committee in April.
I comment below on certain statistics and special items.
Statistics
The Registrar General's estimate of the population of the
borough at mid-1971 (a census year) was 140,550, giving a fall of 2,140
for the year and a fall of 5,920 since the inception of the new borough
in 1965.
The birth rate is the lowest ever in the new borough, as is
the illegitimate birth rate. The infant mortality rate is back to
approximately the 1969 figure after the abnormally low one for 1970,
and remains well below the national average. There was no maternal
death reported during the year.
Although deaths from cancer of all types fell from 415 to 394,
those from cancer of the lung increased from 97 to 104. 88 of the deaths
were in men and represent 41 per cent of male deaths from cancer.
Deaths from cancer of the lung are almost double those for deaths from
all accidents and violence, which totalled 55. Of 5,724 persons X-rayed