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Telephone: PROspect 3443. Public Health Department,
Municipal Offices,
Sheen Lane, S.W. 14.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the Borough of Barnes.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present my Annual Report for the year
1958.
The Report consists of two parts — a Preface in which reference
is made to items of special interest, and an Appendix in which is
tabulated the statistics relating to the health of the district, regard
being given to the Ministry of Health Circular, 22/58.
The year has been a satisfactory one; the birth rate has remained
the same, and there has been a slight decrease in the death rate.
The infantile mortality, which is a good index of the health of
the community, has fallen to 18.2 as compared with 20.4 last year.
This rate was increased by the fact that two of the infant deaths were
newly born babies whose bodies were found by the river and whose
cause of death was unknown. The rate for England and Wales was
22.6.
The incidence of infectious disease during the year was low; there
were no epidemics. There was a slight increase in the number of
Scarlet Fever Cases, but it is gratifying to report a marked decrease
in the number of cases of Whooping Cough. There was an increase
in the number of new cases of Pulmonary Tuberculosis, but there were
no deaths — a point which emphasizes the value of the modern treatment
of the disease.
As this will be the last Report which I shall submit as your
Medical Officer, I would like to express my thanks to the Council for
all the help and support which you have so willing given me during
my twelve years of office. At the same time I should like to thank all
the officials for their unfailing help and co-operation, and pay tribute
to all the members of the staff who have given such loyal and devoted
service.
I have the honour to be,
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
ROSETTA HILL,
23rd July, 1959. Medical Officer of Health.