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Wanstead and Woodford Borough Council
to the mayor, alderman and councillors,
borough of wanstead and woodford
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to submit my Annual Report on the Health
Services in the Borough for the year 1954. As in former years, a section
this report is given to those services under the National Health
Service Act which are administered by the Essex County Council and
decentralised to the Forest Health Area Sub-Committee of the County
Health Committee. An account of the work of the School Health
Service is also included.
Vital Statistics
The total number of live births for the year was 703, 48 fewer
than in the previous year. This is the lowest figure for the past 14
years, and gives an estimated rate of 11.3 per 1,000 of resident population,
comparing with 15.2 per 1,000 for England and Wales as a
whole. The figure of 11.3 is considerably lower than the average
the six previous years, which was 13.2. The average figure for
the whole country for the past few years has remained constant and
it Would therefore appear that the lowered rate for this Borough is
due to the increasing age of its population, and the fact that the
Population now remains at the same figure, there having been no
expansion during the past few years.
610 deaths occurred. This is 33 fewer than in the previous year,
36 fewer than the average for the past six years. The rate per
1,000 is 9.9, comparing with 11.3 for the country as a whole.
I am pleased to report that the Infant Mortality Rate, i.e. the
'lumber of deaths of infants under 1 year per 1,000 of live births,
again reached the low figure of 14.2. This is the lowest on record
for the Borough, and was equalled only in 1951. The comparative
figure for England and Wales is 25.5. This figure is regarded as being
indicative of the health of the community as a whole, which can thus
be regarded as satisfactory.
There has been a small increase in the number of still-births,
which was 15 as compared with 11, giving a rate of 0.24 per 1,000
Population, contrasting with the figure of 0.36 for the whole country.
Causes of Death.
As in previous years the main causes of death were diseases
of the heart and arteries and cancer. The number of deaths from the
latter cause increased from 124 to 135, this increase being in keeping
With a national trend.
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