Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hackney]
This page requires JavaScript
3
PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
TOWN HALL HACKNEY, E. 8.
August, 1962
To His Worship the Mayor and to the Aldermen and
Councillors of the Metropolitan Borough of Hackney
Mr Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen.
I have pleasure in presenting my Annual Report on the health and sanitary
circumstances of the Borough for the year 1961. This report is the tenth
which I personally have had the honour to submit, and is the one hundred and
sixth in the series.
Statistics. The Registrar General's estimate of the mid year population was
163, 180 an increase of 130 persons on the previous year. There were 957 male
and 962 female deaths a total of 1 919 deaths from all causes, as compared
with 1,779 in 1960. The crude death rate per thousand of the population for
the borough was 11.76 as compared with a rate of 11.9 for the County of London
and of 12.0 for England and Wales The corrected death rate for Hackney after
applying the "area comparability" factor of 1.07 was 12.58
The number of live births was 3,600 giving a birth rate of 22.06 for
Hackney against a rate of 18.7 for the County of London and 17.4 for England
and Wales The corrected birth rate for Hackney after applying the "area
comparability" factor of 0.94 was 20.74 The 83 deaths of infants under one
year of age was an increase of 33 on the previous year and gave an infantile
mortality rate of 23 05 the corresponding rates for the County of London and
for England and Wales were 21.5 and 21.6 respectively. There were two deaths
of women from causes associated with pregnancy or childbirth
Malignant disease. Malignant disease in all sites was responsible for 408
deaths as compared with 390 in 1960. whilst malignant disease of the lung and
bronchus claimed 80 male and 16 female lives
Accidental deaths. Motor vehicle accidents were responsible for five male
and three female deaths, and all other accidents accounted for 26 deaths.
Housing. Of the five Clearance Orders made in respect of a total of 34
houses, three affecting 14 houses were confirmed by the Minister without
modification, and confirmation of the remaining two is awaited. The Council
made Underground Room Regulations based on the revised model issued by the
Minister of Housing and Local Government, but these Regulations have not yet
been confirmed The 125 Closing Orders made included 98 individual underground
rooms, 25 parts of premises and two houses Fourteen families displaced as a
result of this action were rehoused by the Borough Council and five by the
London County Council Under the Rent Act, 1957 there was again a reduction
in the number of applications for certificates of disrepair which totalled only
12 as compared with 26 in the previous year There were 20 applications for
cancellation of certificates of disrepair as against 35 in 1960, and applica
tions for certificates as to the remedying of defects dropped from 30 to 17.
Atmospheric Pollution. In the light of experience gained as a result of the
first three smoke control orders it was decided to revise the phased programme
of smoke control areas. Under the new Scheme instead of making one order to
cover a very large area each year, the same area will be dealt with in two
stages by orders coming into operation at approximately six monthly intervals.
In February the Minister confirmed the No. 4 Smoke Control Order which will
come into operation on the 1st November, 1962. The order in respect of the
No. 5 area made by the Council in March of the current year with a view to
its coming into operation on the 1st July, 1963. is awaiting the Minister" s
confirmation As a result of the Orders made up to the time of writing, some
1,708 acres or slightly more than half the total acreage of the Borough will
be smoke controlled by the 1st July, 1963. A Variation Order was made in