DEPT 30 LIBRARY METROPOLITAN BOROUGH OF DEPTFORD REPORT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH FOR THE YEAR 1945 Public Health Department, Central Clinic, Amersham Road, S. E. 14. September, 1946. To The Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the Metropolitan Borough of Deptford. Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen, The following Report briefly indicates that the health standards were reasonably satisfactorily maintained during the year 1945. GENERAL DATA Area of Borough 1,564 acres Estimated Civilian Population 56,650 Comparative figures for London Deptford Birth rate (per 1,000 living) 19.6 15.7 Stillbirths (per 1,000 living) 0.34 0.4 Death rate (per 1,000 living) 16.8 13.8 Infantile Mortality rate(deaths under 1 year per 1,000 live births) 48 53 Deptford 1,009 100 Live births registered (adjusted for inward and outward transfers) Legitimate Illegitimate Total 1,109 Still births registered (Legitimate 19 (Illegitimate - Total 19 (Legitimate 42 Infant Deaths (under 1 year) (Illegitimate 11 Total 53 Total deaths (adjusted for inward and outward transfers) 953 INFECTIOUS DISEASES Typhoid fever - cases. - deaths Cerebro-spinal fever 1 „ 1 „ Scarlet fever 87 „ - „ Whooping Cough 43 „ 1 „ Diphtheria 22 „ 3 „ Erysipelas 12 „ - „ Smallpox - „ - „ Measles 241 „ 3 „ Pneumonia 71 „ 42 „ Puerperal fever 3 „ - „ Puerperal pyrexia 10 „ 1 „ Scabies 357 „ - „ Dysentery 26 „ - „ Diarrhoea and Enteritis (under 2 years) 18 „ 4 „ Ophthalmia Neonatorum 4 „ - 2 Malaria 3 „ - DISINFECTION AND DISINESSTATION The work of disinfection and disinfestation has continued to be carried out at the temporary Disinfecting Station and Bathing Centre at the South Eastern Hospital, the Council's establishments having been destroyed by Enemy Action in July, 1944. Premises disinfected (infectious disease) 413 Total articles disinfected in Steam Disinfector 13,332 Premises disinfected (requests ) 27 Books disinfected 90 Premises disinfected (verminous conditions) 281 Articles destroyed at owners' request 178 BATHING CENTRE No. of school children who received baths (other than for Scabies) 1,108 Scabies baths to school children 1,758 Adult females and infants under school ago who received baths (other than for Scabies) 1,318 Scabies baths to adult females and infants under school age 48 Baths given to adult males (verminous conditions) 376 Scabies baths given to adult males 480 MORTUARY & CORONER'S COURT. Bodies received 536 Inquests held - The Coroner's Court was not used for inquests during the year by reason of damage sustained by enemy action. 3 MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE Visits paid by Health Visitors:- To' expectant mothers first visits 840 total visits 1,088 To children under 1 year „ „ 1,049 „ „ 5,520 To children 1-5 years of age „ „ 6,572 Infant welfare Centres. Total children who attended 1,620 Ante-natal Centres Total number of women who attended 1,008 Post-natal Centres Total number of women who attended 218 CHILD LIFE PROTECTION Persons receiving children for reward (registered foster mothers) 10 Number of children involved 11 Total visits of Health Visitors 37 CARE OF ILLECITIMATE CHILDREN The work outlined in Ministry of health Circular 2866 is undertaker by the health visiting Staff. CARE OF PREMAYURE INFANTS DURING the year 1945 the births of 71 premature infants were notified; of these 15 oçuŕed at home and 56 in hospitals. Provision has been made in accordance with Ministry of health circular 20/44 for the special service which may be required in this connection, such as the supply of cost and clothing, hot water bottles, expressed milk, and, where required, the provision of a home help. GYNAECOLOGICAL AND POST-NATAL CLINICS Total women who attended 157 Re-visits 339 Total attendances 496 WAR TIME NURSERIES At the end of the year 1945, three Nurseries were functioning under the direction of the council. TUBERCULOSIS Cases notified for first time (Pulmonary 115 (Non-pulmonary 14 (Pulmonary 16 New cases coming to knowledge otherwise than by formal notification (Non-pulmonary 3 TUBERCULOSIS DISPENSARY Cases on Dispensary Register 31/12/46 488 Consultation between Practitioners and Tuberculosis Officer 290 Visits of Tuberculosis Officer to homes 102 Visits of Tuberculosis Health. Visitors to homes- To Dispensary cases 3,415 To other cases 1,076 Number of contacts examined 166 Total attendances of patients and contacts at Dispensary 2,136 X-ray examinations made in Connection with Dispensary cases 639 Total specimens of sputum examined at Dispensary 604. TUBERCULOSIS CARE COMMITTEE Cases recommended for institutional treatment referred to Care Committee 149 visits paid by Secretary 755 Interviews 783 Cases dealt with by Care Committee 693 Sums raised by Christmas Seals (1945)...£149.11.1d. Expenses..£4.1.0d. SANITARY INSPECTION Total primary Inspections made by Sanitary Inspectors 5,419 Total re-inspections made by Sanitary Inspectors 13,410 Total number of Intimation Notices served 914 Total number of Statutory Notices served 134 Cases in which legal proceedings were instituted 1 Total visits to prefabricated houses and hutments 16,623 HOUSING With the cessation of hostilities the repair work to war damaged property proceeded with greater celerity involving much supervisory work by the Sanitary Inspectors in connection with the repair or reinstatement of drainage and the investigation of complaints in respect of the more clamant nuisances, the abatement of which merited preferential attention. During the year, one house was represented as being unfit for human habitation. Similar supervisory work by the Sanitary Inspectors was necessary in connection with the construction of drainage for the prefabricated, houses hutments, involving 16,623 visits during the year. FOOD AND DRUGS ACT Milk Others Total. Samples taken 186 147 333 Number of adulterated or otherwise infringing the Act by reason of improper labelling or other irregularity 13 13 26 Instances in which proceedings were instituted 1 1 2 In addition to the analyses under the Food and Drugs Act, as specified above, three samples were examined under the Pharmacy and Medicines Act and twelve samples under various Orders and Regulations made by the Minister of Food. My thanks are due to the staff, both permanent and temporary, for the able manner they have discharged their duties under conditions of exceptional difficulty. I have the honour to be, Your obedient Servant, Jr. Leonard Ruth. Medical Officer of Health.