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TO THE CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF
THE HEALTH COMMITTEE
My Lady, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I beg to present in the following pages a report on the Health
and the Health Services of the Borough during 1955. By courtesy
of the County Medical Officer I include details of the Personal
Health Services administered by the Walthamstow Health Area SubCommittee
of the County Health Committee.
Before proceeding to review the more important items of the
report, I must refer to the departure at the end of July, of Dr.
Melville Watkins, formerly Deputy Medical Officer of Health, to
take up the appointment of Medical Officer of Health, Divisional
School Medical Officer and Area Medical Officer at Leyton. Dr.
Watkins commenced duty in Walthamstow in August, 1941 and
has given loyal and notable service to the people of Walthamstow.
Dr. Geoffrey Poole was appointed in December to succeed Dr.
Watkins as Deputy Medical Officer of Health and acts as Senior
Assistant County Medical Officer of Health. In the interim Dr.
A. W. Forrest, formerly Medical Officer of Health, Leyton, acted
as Medical Officer of Health during the period 20th—27th October.
The birth rate has again fallen and produced a new low record
for the post-war years. The death rate was higher, but infant
mortality produced a new low record of 20.5. Of the main causes
of death those due to cancer totalled 272 against 261 in 1954, but
among these, deaths due to cancer of the lung were 5 less. Deaths
due to vascular (including cardiac) conditions were 523 against 528,
but those from pneumonia and bronchitis were much higher at 158
against 114. Special reference is made to the 10 deaths from
accidents in the home, but these deaths give no indication to the
true picture of the largely avoidable suffering in those cases which
fortunately were not fatal.
The representation of old and worn out dwellings was continued
and to date 192 have been agreed for demolition and (including
these) a total of 541 has been included in the five year programme
for possible clearance. Demolition has already begun, but in turn,
the need to rehouse displaced families increases the pressure on the
housing accommodation which becomes available.
With reference to infectious diseases, the year was epidemic
for measles, but showed a very low incidence of whooping cough
and dysentery and a slightly increased notification of tuberculosis.
Again there was no confirmed case of diphtheria (the last was in