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TO THE MAYOR, ALDERMEN AND COUNCILLORS OF THE
BOROUGH OF SUTTON AND CHEAM
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present to you the Annual Report on the health
of the Borough for the year 1962., It has been prepared in accordance with
Ministry of Health Circular No. 1/63
The estimated population increased by four hundred and fifty to
seventy eight thousand, four hundred and thirty. The birth rate was again
higher at 14.99 births per thousand of population (15.59 adjusted), compared
with 14.13 per thousand of population (14.7 adjusted) in 1961. The birth
rate for England and Wales was 18.0 per thousand.
The death rate also increased to 12.95 (12.04 adjusted) per thousand
of population, as against 12.48 (11.36 adjusted) per thousand of population
in 1961. The death rate in England and Wales was 11.9 per thousand. The
main increase in deaths was caused by deaths from pneumonia, chronic
bronchitis and other diseases (not tuberculosis) of the respiratory system.
The only malignant disease to show an increase was cancer of the lung and
bronchus. There was no maternal death, for the fourth successive year.
The infantile mortality rate was slightly higher at 16.2 per thousand live
births in 1962, compared with 15.4 in 1961. The infantile mortality rate for
England and Wales was 20.7.
There was a lower incidence of infectious diseases, mainly accounted
for by a reduction in the number of cases of Measles and Whooping Cough.
There was no case of Diphtheria, nor, for the fourth year running, of
Poliomyelitis, and it is hoped that this happy state will continue by
maintaining or increasing the immunisation and vaccination states. There
was one case of Meningococcal Infection, and one case of Typhoid Fever.
There was a welcome big reduction in the new cases of Pulmonary
Tuberculosis notified in 1962.
Nineteen sixty two was a year of change as regards vaccination and
immunisation procedure. Emphasis on vaccination against Smallpox was
transferred from the first to the second year of life. Sabin oral poliomyelitis
vaccine came into supply and operation at the end of March, 1962.
Alternative dosage schedules to reduce the number of visits and injections
in order to 'absorb' all the various prophylactic agents now in use came
into general operation.
Housing still remains the Borough's chief problem, but prospects are
rather brighter than for many years. Thirty one houses or flats were
completed during 1962 and forty two were under construction at the end
of the year. Planning was also completed for two hundred and nine units
on the Chaucer Road site, on which building will commence early in 1963.
In addition, land was acquired at the Gas Works site, for which planning
should commence in 1963 for approximately two hundred units. Six families
were transferred to new towns, and six to Frimley and Camberley. Twelve
families were rehoused from slum clearance areas.
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