View report page

5
PREFACE
Health and Welfare Department,
17/23, Clements Road,
TELEPHONE:
01-478 3 020 ILFORD.
August, 1969.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I hereby submit the fourth Annual Report of the Health and Welfare Services of the
London Borough of Redbridge. The fresh format is largely due to Dr. Fernandes, our new
deputy, who has taken over the editorship, and I must thank him for his efforts. Last
year I mentioned our difficulties in "waiting for Seebohm", this year we are still waiting,
now for Mr. Richard Crossman to pronounce on Seebohm.
The statistics of the borough for 1968 present a number of very interesting
features. The population has risen by 790, in itself not very remarkable, but viewed in
the light of a steady decline over the last few years, and the general consensus of
opinion among statisticians that the population of most of the London boroughs, including
Redbridge, will decline still further in the next few years, it seems that the
statisticians should have a second think. It should be noted in this regard that the
number of inhabited houses has risen by 99.
The most remarkable statistic of all is the infant mortality rate, which has fallen
from 18.20 deaths per 1,000 live births to 12.74 (Greater London 18.6). As the number
of such deaths was however only 45 (in 1967 there were 66), statistics become less
valid as numbers diminish, but nevertheless it is a remarkable achievement, in view of
the total number of live births, 3,582, only 85 less than the previous year. The mortality
fates in the first four weeks of life, and in the first week of life have also fallen
dramatically, but as there were 9 more stillbirths (49) the so-called perinatal mortality
rate has only fallen from 23.10 to 20.38.
The percentage of live births that were illegitimate has risen from 6.41 to 7.50, a
minor reflection of what obtains throughout London (11.5). A strange feature of this is
that bed-occupancy in mother and baby homes (for unmarried mothers) is steadily
diminishing, and fears are expressed that some of these homes may have to be closed.
An explanation of this paradox may be that society is becoming more permissive, unmarried
mothers can remain with their parents. The rise in illegitimacy is also mirrored
by the rise in venereal diseases. These are not notifiable but the London Clinics give
us the numbers of those resident in Redbridge, which have risen from 721 to 855.