London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Heston and Isleworth 1947
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Heston and Isleworth]
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| 1946 | 1947 | |
|---|---|---|
| Population (Registrar-General's estimate) | 104,240 | 106,670 |
| Number of inhabited houses (rate books) | 27,613 | 27,659 |
| Number of houses erected during year | 229 | 321 |
| Rateable value of Borough | £957,317 | £976,882 |
| Sum represented by a penny rate | £3,962 | £4,003 |
| Live Births—legitimate—male | 876 | 932 |
| Live Births—legitimate—female | 815 | 837 |
| Live Births—illegitimate—male | 62 | 30 |
| Live Births—illegitimate—female | 52 | 47 |
| Birth rate per 1,000 population | 17.3 | 17.3 |
| Birth rate per 1,000 population (England and Wales) | 19.1 | 20.5 |
| Stillbirths—legitimate—male | 25 | 27 |
| Stillbirths—legitimate—female | 19 | 14 |
| Stillbirths—illegitimate—male | 2 | 2 |
| Stillbirths—illegitimate—female | 2 | 2 |
| Stillbirth Rate per 1,000 (live and still) births | 26 | 23 |
| Deaths—male | 588 | 556 |
| Deaths—female | 500 | 562 |
| Death rate per 1,000 population | 10.4 | 10.5 |
| Death rate per 1,000 population (England and Wales) | 11.5 | 12.0 |
| Infant Mortality rate | 29.4 | 39.0 |
| Infant Mortality rate (England and Wales) | 43 | 41 |
| Maternal Mortality rate | 2.2 | 0.5 |
| Maternal Mortality rate (England and Wales) | 1.4 | 1.2 |
| Out-relief disbursed to Heston and Isleworth residents | £19,008 | £21,752 |
VITAL STATISTICS
Population.—The population of the Borough at the 1931 census was 76,460 and the RegistrarGeneral's
mid-year estimate of population for 1947 was 106,670.
Rateable Value.—The rateable value of the Borough for 1947 was £976,882 and the sum represented
by a penny rate was £4,003.
Inhabited Houses.—According to the rate books the number of inhabited houses at the end of
1947 was 27,659.
Live Births.—The number of live births in 1947 was 1,846 as compared with 1,805 in 1946. The
birth rate was 17.3 per 1,000 population, while that of England and Wales was 20.5. The number of
illegitimate births was 77 as compared with 114 in 1946. The proportion of births which were illegitimate
expressed as a percentage of the total live births, is shown below for recent years :—
1920-24 3.4
1925-29 3.9
1930-34 3.2
1935-39 2.9
1940-44 4.6
1945 7.5
1946 6.3
1947 4.2
The number of births may not appear to be of special interest as far as the year in which they
occur is concerned, but it is of considerable significance for the future. From the number of live births in
1947 can be estimated the number of children entering school in the year 1952, the number entering
employment in the year 1962, the number available for the Forces in the year 1965 and the number
qualifying for retirement pensions in the year 2012, etc.
Stillbirths.—The number of stillbirths in 1947 was 45 (41 legitimate, 4 illegitimate). The proportion of stillbirths per 1,000 total (live and still) births in recent years is shown below :
| No. of stillbirths | Rate per 1,000 total births | |
|---|---|---|
| 1930-34 | 214 | 31.2 |
| 1935-39 | 224 | 29.4 |
| 1940-44 | 200 | 27.7 |
| 1945 | 39 | 25.7 |
| 1946 | 48 | 25.9 |
| 1947 | 45 | 23.8 |
It is difficult to assess accurately all the factors contributing to this saving of potential lives, but
no doubt increasing attention to the nutrition and ante-natal care of expectant mothers has played a large
part.
Deaths.—The deaths of residents of the Borough during 1947 were 1,118 (556 male, 562 female).
This represents a death rate for the Borough of 10.5 per 1,000 population, as compared with 12.0 for
England and Wales. Some differences are shown in Tables II and IV, as the analysis of causes carried
out locally does not agree in detail with that supplied by the Registrar-General.
A progressive change is taking place in the percentage age distribution of deaths, and this is indicated in the following table:—
| 1910-14 | 1940-44 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1 year | 21.8 | 7.8 | 8.2 | 4.9 | 6.4 |
| 1-4 years | 8.4 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 1.2 |
| 5-14 years | 3.8 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 0.4 |
| 15-24 years | 3.7 | 2.8 | 2.7 | 2.6 | 1.7 |
| 25-64 years | 30.8 | 35.2 | 34.1 | 34.0 | 32.9 |
| 65 years and over | 31.5 | 51.0 | 53.6 | 56.5 | 57.4 |