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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 1960. 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 807, an increase of 87
over the previous year and the highest number recorded during the
past ten years. This increase conforms with a national trend. Birth
Rate per 1,000 population was 13.1 compared with a figure of 17.1 for
the country as a whole. The still-birth rate dropped from 24.4 to 13.4
per 1,000 births.
Death Rate. The total number of deaths was 738, an increase of 46
over those recorded in 1959 and the highest number ever recorded
in the borough during a single year. When considering these figures
it should be realised that the population is an ageing one, there being
no extensive building nor new development. Death Rate per 1,000
population was 12.0 compared with 11.5 for the whole of England
and Wales.
Infant Mortality Rate. i.e. the deaths of infants under one year per
1,000 live births, was 19.8. This figure shows improvement on that recorded
last year which was 25.0 and compares favourably with that
for the whole of England and Wales, i.e. 21.9.
Causes of Death
As is usual, the commonest causes of death were diseases of the
heart and arteries, and cancer. Deaths from cancer increased by 36 to
reach a total of 157, mainly due to an increase of disease in the lung
and breast. There was a slight increase, 9 cases, in the incidence of
coronary disease. Deaths from Road Traffic Accidents were almost
doubled, 13 in 1960 compared with 7 in 1959. There were 14 cases of
suicide. There was a marked drop in deaths from influenza, only 3
cases being recorded compared with a previous figure of 21
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