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Wanstead and Woodford Borough Council
TO THE MAYOR, ALDERMEN 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 1958. As in former years a section
of 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 Birth Rate increased by 35, total births reaching 748, the highest
figure since 1953. The Birth Rate per 1,000 population was 12.2
contrasted with 15.1 for the country as a whole. While continuing to
be well below the national average the Birth Rate of the Borough has
risen during the past 2 years whereas the national rate has fallen.
The Death Rate increased by 36 making a total of 696. Death Rate
per 1,000 population was 11.37 which is slightly less than the figure
for England and Wales—11.68. It is of interest to note that the increase
in deaths was entirely among the female population, 38 more
females dying than in 1957. The male rate was actually 2 deaths less
than in the previous year.
The Infant Mortality Rate i.e. the deaths of infants under one year of
age per 1000 live births was 9.4 contrasted with a figure of 26.6 which
was identical in the two previous years. This is by far the lowest figure
ever recorded in the Borough the nearest approach to it being 14.2 in
1954 and in 1951. The figure for England and Wales is 22.6. It has
been stated that the Infantile Mortality figure can be regarded as an
index of the health of the population. To achieve a figure so far below
the national average is most gratifying.
Causes of Death.
Deaths from cancer increased by 8 to a total of 127. This figure has
remained fairlv constant during the past 10 years, varying between
119 and 134. Deaths from coronary thrombosis showed a striking increase
rising from 87 to 123, the highest figure recorded.
Infectious Disease.
Incidence of infectious disease remained very low. One case of
non-paralytic poliomyelitis was reported.
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