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WANSTEAD AND WOODFORD BOROUGH COUNCIL.
To the mayor, the aldermen and councillors,
borough of wanstead and woodford
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to submit my Annual Report as Medical Officer of
Health for the year 1946.
The incidence of Infectious Disease remained low and compares
favourably with that of previous years. Two mild cases of Diphtheria
occurred (compared with eight in 1945)—both were inmates of Dr.
Barnardo's Homes. Scarlet Fever showed a slight increase over the previous
year 72 cases as compared with 62; all cases were mild and the majority
were treated at home. Cases of Measles were approximately one-third of
the number notified in 1945. There was an increase in the numbers notified
as suffering from Whooping Cough, these being four times as many as
those notified in the previous year. When comparing the incidence of disease
with that of 1945, it must be borne in mind that many children had been
evacuated and did not return to the Borough until the latter part of that
year. The Diphtheria Immunisation continued, approximately the same
number of children being immunised, i.e., 900 as in 1945.
Vital Statistics are shown on the Table on page 5 from which it will
be seen that the population of the Borough increased by more than 9,000.
the Birth-rate per 1,000 of the estimated resident population increased to
19.2 as compared with 16.0 for 1945, while the Death-rate calculated
similarly, fell from 13.0 to 11.1. The infantile mortality rate, i.e., the
death-rate of infants under 1 year per 1,000 live births, was 31.3; this is
.3 lower than in 1945 and compares favourably with the rate for the whole
of England and Wales for 1946, which was 43.
Particulars of the Maternity and Child Welfare Service will be found
in the appropriate section. On account of the large numbers attending, it
was found necessary to increase the sessions at the Ante-Natal Clinic from
two to three. An additional Infant Welfare Centre was opened in October
at the Cromwell Hall, Nightingale Lane, Wanstead. During the year the
number of Midwives employed was increased from four to five and the
number of Health Visitors from three to four. Owing to the great shortage
midwives and hospital domestic staff, much difficulty was experienced in
arranging maternity hospital accommodation, and only those persons whose
confinements were likely to be abnormal or where home conditions were
such as to make domiciliary confinement impossible, could be admitted to
hospital. In December, 1946 the maternity wing at the Essex County
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