London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Surbiton 1957
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Surbiton]
This page requires JavaScript
Births: The number of live births for 1957 is 777 and
compares with 761 for 1956. The birth rate is 12.31 per
1,000 of the population.
Deaths: The number of deaths recorded in 1957 is 553
compared with 615 for 1956. This gives a death rate of
8.76 per thousand of the population.
The number of deaths of infants under one year in
1957 is 9 giving an Infant Mortality Rate of 11.58 compared with
a Rate of 15.76 for 1956. This is an exceptionally low figure.
Causes of Death: The main causes of death during 1957 were
Heart 219
Cancer 117
Vascular lesions of Nervous
System 82
National attention has been drawn in recent years to
the general increase in the number of deaths attributable
to lung cancer and its connexion with cigarette smoking.
The following table shows the relevant figures for the past five years in respect of Surbiton residents. The Registrar-General couples cancer of the lung with cancer of the bronchus in his abbreviated list of causes of death.
| 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M | F | M | F | M | F | M | F | M | F | |
| Deaths from cancer of the lung and bronchus | 18 | 4 | 19 | 5 | 21 | 2 | 24 | 6 | 19 | 4 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | ||||||
| 22 | 24 | 23 | 30 | 23 | ||||||
Health Services Handbook: During the year a Health Service
Handbook was prepared giving information and data concerning
health services available in the Borough. This was widely
distributed to Doctors, Dentists, Chemists, Clinics and
Council Departments to be made available to the public.
Care of the Aged: The splendid work on behalf of the aged by
voluntary bodies continued with increasing vigour throughout
the year.
It must be remembered by all who have responsibility
in the community that the statutory bodies, i.e., the Surrey
County Council and the Surbiton Borough Council depend on
voluntary bodies to organise and carry out schemes for the
welfare of the aged. and the necessary amplification of the
official schemes and services.
Therefore it is with satisfaction that we acknowledge
the further provision made by the Surbiton Old People's
Welfare Committee and the supporting organisations towards
the new premises at "Alfriston", Berrylands Road.
This work becomes more urgent with each succeeding year
and is worthy of the utmost material and moral support from
the Council and the people of the Borough.
3.