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3
Borough of Mitcham
HEALTH REPORT FOR 1945
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors.
Sir, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have much pleasure in presenting my annual report for the
year 1945. The end of the war has resulted in a gradual increase
in the population owing to the return of evacuees and of
members of the forces to civil life. This increase in population
has aggravated the housing difficulties of an area which suffered
severely from enemy action, especially during the flying bomb
period.
The birth rate has remained at a high rate and the infant
mortality rate of 31.8 per 1,000 has been lower only in 1939.
There has been a small increase in the number of illegitimate
births, but the infant mortality rate amongst illegitimate births
has greatly improved and is lower than that of legitimate births.
The local death rate was 10.19 per 1,000 as against 11.4 for
England and Wales and 13.8 per 1,000 for the Administrative
County of London.
The work of the Day Nurseries has continued and the demand
for places had not abated by the end of the year, and a waiting
list was maintained. The general health of these children has
been good and few cases of infectious disease have occurred.
There has been an increased number of attendances at the
welfare and ante-natal clinics, and an additional welfare centre
and health visitor have proved necessary.