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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 1959. 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
Birth Rate. The total number of births was 720 being 28 less than
the figure for 1958 but greater by 11 births than the average for
the past six years. The Birth Rate per 1,000 population was 11.7 as
compared with a figure of 16.5 for the country as a whole.
Death Rate. The total number of deaths was 692 an almost similar
figure (696) to that of the previous year. The figure per 1,000 population
was 11.5 being almost identical to that for England and Wales
(11.6).
Infant Mortality Rate i.e., the deaths of infants under one year per
1,000 live births. This figure, which, last year reached the record low
figure of 9.6, reverted to the more usual figure of 25 which figure is
less than that recorded in 1957 and 1956. When comparing these
figures it must be bome in min dthat the numbers dealt with are
small and that one or two additional deaths will cause a substantial
rise in the mortality rate.
Causes of Death
No unusual trends became manifest. Deaths from cancer fell from
127 to 121.
Infectious Disease and Food Poisoning
There were two cases of paralytic poliomyelitis in voung children
aged 3½ and 2 years. Both cases responded to hospital treatment and
in neither was there any significent degree of residual paralysis. These
two children had not been immunised previously, not because the
parents had objected, but owing to apathy and postponement, despite
repeated reminders by the Health Visitor.
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