View report page

Wanstead & Woodford Borough Council
TO THE MAYOR, ALDERMAN AND COUNCILLORS,
BOROUGH OF WANSTEAD AND WOODFORD
I have the honour to submit my Annual Report on the Health
Services in the Borough for the year 1963. This is the nineteenth report
which I have compiled and, owing to the Borough's approaching
decease, is likely to be the last but one. As usual, details of the personal
health services under the National Health Service Act Part III, which are
administered by the County Council and delegated to the Forest Health
Area, are presented as also is an account of the School Health Service.
Vital Statistics
Birth Rate. There was a further increase in the number of births during
the year, the total figure being 869 as compared with 844 in 1962. The
rate per 1,000 of the population was 14.2 as compared with 13.8. This
is well below the national figure of 18.2.
Death Rate. The total number of deaths was 746 being 18 fewer than
in 1962 when the figure was the highest ever recorded. Death rate per
1,000 of the population was 12.2, this figure being identical with that
for the country as a whole.
Infant Mortality Rate. This figure indicates the number of deaths in
infants under one year per 1,000 live births and amounted to 20.7, that
for England and Wales being 21.1. These figures show little variance,
that for the Borough in 1962 being 20.2.
Causes of Death. As is to be expected, deaths from circulatory disease
and from cancer head the list. Cancer deaths numbered 151, seven fewer
than in 1962. 152 persons died from coronary heart disease, this figure
shows a steady yearly increase and is ten more than in the previous year.
There were eight cases of suicide and four fatal road traffic accidents.
Infectious Disease
There was an outbreak of measles, 504 cases being notified, the number
being double that for 1962. 59 cases of dysentery were reported,
most of which came from a residential institution for children. One case
of typhoid fever occurred in a young man recently returned from Spain
where he had been 'living rough'. For the third year in succession there
were no cases of poliomyelitis.
1