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2.
is best carried out by the assiduous application of routine measures
and the continued co-operation of head teachers of schools and general
practitioners which makes this possible is much appreciated.
The population of the district has remained practically unchanged
for a number of years. In Common with the country as a whole the
proportion of persons of pensionable age is gradually rising. This
figure is at present approximately one in seven of the population and
it is estimated that it will rise to one in six during the next ten
years. The majority of elderly people are able to maintain themselves
in their own homes with the support and help of their families and the
various voluntary and statutory services. There is a small number,
however, whose increasing disability, probably accelerated by illness,
makes this extremely difficult, particularly when they are living in
homes more suited in size and type for family residence. This applies
also to younger people who are handicapped by physical disablement,
some of whom have a housing need which is not occasioned by lack of
accommodation but by the unsuitable type of home in which they have to
live. Life would be very much easier for them and they could be
supported in their own homes to a much greater extent were they to be
housed in accommodation designed to meet their needs. The calls upon
their limited physical capacity which are occasioned by such things
as staircases, coal fires and unsuitable fixtures and fittings would
thereby be minimised, leaving them better able to attend to their own
personal needs. The flatlets for old people scheme which is sponsored
by the Old Peoples Welfare Association and supported by grant from the
Council goes some way towards meeting this need, but it may be necessary
for the Council to consider in the future whether further action is
necessary to meet the increasing requirements of this aspect of the
life of the community.
The general statistics for the year indicate no dramatic change
in trends which have been observed for a number of years. The incidence
of serious infectious disease continues to fall, though such relatively
minor illnesses as scarlet fever and measles continue to cause domestic
and educational difficulties. Complications of the common fevers of
childhood are now largely controlled by the use of modern drugs but
their nuisance value remains.
The rates of birth and death in the Borough remain more or less
constant from year to year. The increase in the birth rate which
followed World War II and then declined has to some extent been restored
though in this district it remains at a level considerably below that
of the national figure. This is no doubt a reflection upon the
percentage of residents of child bearing age when compared with the
country as a whole. It is interesting to note that 29% of the deaths
registered during the year were of persons of 80 or more years of age
and that of 148 deaths in this group only 42 were males compared with
106 females.