London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Hounslow 1972
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hounslow]
This page requires JavaScript
Annual Report of the Medical Officer of Health for the year 1972
Vital Statistics
Area and Population
The London Borough of Hounslow covers an area of 14,469
acres and contains an estimated population of 206,460
people.
There were 2,893 live births compared with 2,258 deaths
giving a natural increase of 635 persons.
The research and intelligence unit of the Greater London
Council provides estimated populations of all London
boroughs by age groups and those for Hounslow are
disease (130) or cancer (131). Of the 187 female deaths —
again two thirds were ascribed to cancer (56) or heart
disease (45).
These 505 men and women formed almost a quarter of
all deaths in Hounslow most of whom would otherwise still
be 'gainfully employed', at home rearing a family and
others looking forward to some years of retirement.
It is a sad reflection in this day and age of high levels of national and local taxation with so much being spent on the diagnostic and curative family doctor and hospital services together with the local authority preventive health services, that so many people should continued to be
subject to what can only be regarded as premature death.
| Mid year | Age in years Under 1 | 1 - 4 | 5- 14 | 15 - 64 | 65 and over | all ages | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | ||
| 1970 | 3,230 | 1.6 | 12,870 | 6.3 | 27,900 | 13.7 | 134,980 | 66.0 | 25,400 | 12.4 | 204,380 |
| 1971 | 3,510 | 1.7 | 13,220 | 6.4 | 28,300 | 13.7 | 135,940 | 65.8 | 25,780 | 12.4 | 206,650 |
| 1972 | 3,000 | 1.5 | 12,000 | 5.8 | 29,800 | 14.4 | 135,160 | 65.5 | 26,505 | 12.8 | 206,460 |
Since the borough was formed in 1965 the number of
live births has exceeded the number of deaths by 8,819
but despite this the Registrar General estimates that during
the same period the local population has decreased by
1,090 which suggests a net outward migration of some
9,274 people to other areas.
Live births
The number of live births registered during the year was
2,893 (1,516 male and 1,377 famale) giving a crude live
birth rate of 14.0 for 1,000 population.
Apart from other causes, both birth and death rates will
vary according to the age and sex distribution of the
population and so to enable a valid comparison with other
areas, the Registrar General provides area comparability
factors. When the birth comparability factor of 0.93 is
applied, the borough's live birth rate becomes 13.0 which
is 1.8 below that for England and Wales. Compared with
1971 the rate for Hounslow decreased slightly and is similar
to the experience for the whole country. There were 245
illegitimate live births, 33 less than last year which gives an
illegitimate live birth rate of 8 per cent of total live births
which is 1% lower than that for England and Wales.
Stillbirths
Stillbirths numbered 40 which is 7 more than last year.
Deaths
During the year 2,258 deaths were registered, 45 more than
for 1971. The adjusted death rate was 11.2 which is a little
less than that for the whole country.
Included in the 1,167 total male deaths are 319
occurring between the ages of 45 and 64 — early to late
middle age. Over two thirds succumbed either to heart
Infant Mortality
There were 52 infants who died before reaching the age of
one year; 28 were male and 24 female. The infant mortality
rate was 18 per 1,000 live births compared with a rate of
17 for the country as a whole. The illegitimate infant
mortality rate was 16 which is 5 per 1,000 less than for
England and Wales.
Infectious Diseases
International certificates of vaccination and inoculation
against smallpox, yellow fever and cholera.
Applications for authentication dealth with by the
medical officer of health numbered 8703 compared with
8600 for 1971 and 7365 during 1970.
13
The number of corrected notifications of infectious
diseases received during the year compared with previous
years are summarised overleaf.