View report page

10
PUBLIC HEALTH AND ALLIED SERVICES.
Historical.—The records in the Health Department give the
population of Walthamstow in 1851 as 4,957, living in some 900
houses. By 1881 it was 21,715, doubling itself by 1891 and again
by 1901 when it had reached 91,125. The population "peak" was
reached in 1933 when it was 135,600. After a large decrease due
to the war it is again increasing and had reached 122,700 in mid1948.
The earliest available Annual Report is that of a part-time
Medical Officer of Health in 1883 which refers to "the requirements
of this large and rapidly changing district of some 26,000
population" and the danger of "the direct connection of the drains
with the interior of the house"; "the intermittent failure of the
water supply" and "the abominable and insanitary condition of
some of our roads."
In 1887 it was noted that the only hospital admitting cases
of infectious disease had refused to admit any more. This was in
a year with 52 deaths from Diphtheria, 51 from Diarrhoea, 29 from
Whooping Cough and 25 from Measles, i.e., a total of 157. By
contrast, in 1948 all these diseases, with a population nearly five
times greater, caused the death of only 9 persons.
In 1888 there were 65 deaths from Diphtheria but in 1948
there was none—very largely because of better conditions generally
and of IMMUNISATION.
In view of the transfer of responsibility for the 'personal'
health services on July 5th, it is appropriate to record the development
of the Health Services since the incorporation of Walthamstow
in 1929—
1929—A new Maternity and Child Welfare Centre and School
Clinic was built and brought into use at Low Hall Lane.
This adjoined a new Nursery School of 150 places provided
by the Education Committee.
A smallpox hospital of 40 beds in hutments was provided
in order to cope with an epidemic.
1930—The infant mortality rate of 39 was the lowest yet recorded
and the second lowest in the London " outer ring " towns.
116 unfit houses were scheduled for clearance.
School dental and nursing staffs were increased.
1931—A new wing was added to the Nurses' Home at the
Infectious Diseases Hospital providing 24 bedrooms at a
cost of some £10,000.
Chiropody and gynaecological clinics were set up—amongst
the first in the Greater London area.