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To The Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the
London Borough of Merton.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present the Annual Report on the
Health of Merton for the year 1966. A study of the vital statistics
shows that, in general, the health of the residents has been good
during the year.
Although there was an increase of live births over deaths during
1966, the Registrar-General's estimated mid-1966 population of
184,190 shows a decrease of 940 on 1965, thus continuing the trend
of a falling population to which I drew attention in my Annual Report
for 1965.
The live births totalled 2,865, being 34 less than the previous
year, giving a live birth rate of 15.55 compared with a live birth rate
for England and Wales of 17.7. Merton's live birth rate thus showed
a slight decline from 15.66 in 1965.
It is pleasing to record that the number of illegitimate live births
showed a fall, from 228 to 218, with a consequent fall in their percentage
of live births from 8.55 to 7.61.
Deaths from all causes numbered 1,995 compared with 2,106 in
1965, and this marked fall produced a death rate of 10.83 compared
with 11.14 for 1965. This gives a favourable comparison with the
rate for England and Wales of 11.7.
The infant mortality rate was 15.53, compared with 18.35 for
1965. The infant mortality rate for England and Wales was 18.9.
The stillbirth rate per 1,000 live and stillbirths showed a marked
fall from 14.62 in 1965 to 11.81 in 1966, although there was a corresponding
increase in the neo-natal and early neo-natal mortality rates
from 10.69 and 9.69 to 12.91 and 11.52 respectively.
The perinatal mortality rate was 22.4, compared with 21.83 for
1965. This compares favourably with the rate for England and Wales
of 26.3.
There were no serious outbreaks of infectious disease during the
year, the incidence of measles being low, following the ' measles' year
of 1965, and I am pleased to be able to report that there was no case
of typhoid fever or poliomyelitis during the year.
The demand on the Home Help Service throughout the year was
very heavy, and in the early part of the year there was a serious shortage
of Home Helps owing to difficulties of recruitment. The situation
regarding recruitment, however, improved steadily from June onwards
and the target figure of 111 equivalent whole-time Home Helps was
reached, and this target was raised with the approval of the Establishment
Committee to 120 equivalent whole-time Home Helps at the end
of the year. This was a source of considerable satisfaction, not only as
an indication of the success of the recruitment drive, but also because
it became possible to provide a more satisfactory service by meeting
more fully the increasing demands on the service. There is no doubt
that the calls on this service will continue to increase and if the demand
is to be met satisfactorily a higher target figure of whole-time
Home Helps will be inevitable.
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