[Report 1963] / Medical Officer of Health, Cheltenham (Union) R.D.C.

  • Cheltenham (England). Rural District Council.
Date:
1963
    The causes of death in the following table are classified under the Abbreviated List of international Statistical Classification: Male Female 1. Tuberculosis, respiratory - 2. Tuberculosis, other 3. . Syphilitic disease 1 — A. • Diphtheria ■ - - 3. V(/hooping cough - • 6, Meningococcal infections — 7- Acute poliomyelitis ~ — 8. Measles 9. Other infective and parasitic diseases — 10. Malignant neoplasms, stomach 2 3 11. Malignant neoplasm, lung, bronchus 6 2 12. Malignant neoplasm, breast - 8 13. Malignant neoplasm, uterus - 1 1^. Other malignant and lymphatic neoplasms 16 16 13. Leukaemia, aleukaemia 1 1 16. Diabetes 1 2 17. Vascular lesions of nervous s;^'‘stem 15 23 l8. Coronary disease, angina 45 19 19. Hypertension with heart disease - 3 20. Other heart disease 18 26 21. Other circulatory diseases 9 5 22. Influenza — 2 23. Pneumonia 8 9 24. Bronchitis 8 6 25. Other disease of the respiratory system 1 3 26. Ulcer of stomach and duodenum 1 2 27. Gastritis, enteritis and diarrhoea 1 2 28. Nephritis and nephrosis - 1 29. Hyperplasia of prostate 1 - 30. Pregnancy, childbirth, abortion - - 31. Congenital malformations 1 1 32. Other defined and ill-defined diseases 11 16 33. Motor vehicle accidents 1 2 34. All other accidents 6 3 35. Suicide 3 2 36. Homicide and operations of war - - Total: 156 158 BIRTH, DEATH AND INFANTILE MORTALITY RATES IN THE DISTRICT FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS Birth Rate (per 1,000 population) Death Rate (per 1,000 population) Infantile Mortality Rate (per 1,000 live birth's) (Deaths of infants under 1 year) Neonatal Mortality Rate (per 1,000 live births) TDeaths of infants under 1 month) 1959 i960 1961 1562 1963 19.0 19.s TO 19.1 21.1 9.7 9.2 9.2 9.0 9.2 18.0 23.5 20.3 29.0 12.5 16.1 18.5 15.3 22.5 9.7 COMPARISON WITH THE BIRTH, DEATH AND INFANTILE MORT.FLITY RATES FOR ENGLAND nib l/ALES ETC. FOR 19^3 " Live Birth Rate Still Birth Rate (per 1,000 total Live and Still Births) Infantile Mortality Rate (per 1,000 Live Births - deaths of infants under 1 vear) Neonatal Mortality Rato (per 1,0C0 Live Births - deaths of infants under 1 month) Death Rate (per 1,000 population) England & Wales County of Glos. Cheltenham R.D. 18.2 19.25 21.1 17.3 11.66 8.3 21.1 18.20 12.5 14.2 12.70 9.7 12.2 11.43 9.2
    PREVALENCE OF, AND CONTROL OVER, INFECTION Am OTHER DISEASES INFECTIOUS DISEASES NOTIFIED DURING I963 (excluding Tuberculosis) Under 25 and Age 1 year 1 - 4 5 - l4 15 _ 24 over unknown Total M. F. M. F. M. F. M. F. M. F. M. F. M. F Scarlet Fever * - 4 2 5 3 - — - - 9 5 ViTiooping Cough - — 3 2 1 - 4 2 Poliomyelitis, para- lytic, non-paralytic - w - - - - Measles k 7 99 95 Il4 91 3 1 3 1 4 2 227 197 Diphtheria Dysentery - - 1 - - - ~ _ _ - - 1 - Meningococcal infection - - Under 65 5 yea .rs 5 - l4 15 - 44 45 - 64 over Total M. F. M. F. M. F. M. F. M. F. M. F. Pneumonia 1 1 3 - 3 1 7 Encephalitis, infectious Erysipelas - — 1 — 1 2 - Puerperal pyrexia - - - 6 — — — . 6 Scarlet Fever Only fourteen cases were notified. Nowadays the disease is exceptionally light in incidence and mild in character. Diphtheria No case has occurred in the District since 19^9- V/hooping Cough Only six cases v;ere notified, a tribute to the success of the vaccination campaign. Measles kZA cases v^ore notified, but there were no deaths. Although the disease has a biennial incidence in a particular locality,as the Rural District is so widely . scattered, this feature is lost. Poliomyelitis Food poisoning No cases were notified. There were no cases of food poisoning notified, which reflects most favourably upon the high standards of the food trade and the v;ork of the Public Health Inspectors, Dysentery Only one case of dysentery of a mild type occurred. VACCIMTION AND IMMUNISATION DIPHTUERIA IMMUNISATION The follov;ing table shows the number of children immunised against diphtheria during 1963* Age at 31.12.63• Under . 1 yr. 1 year 2-4 yrs. 5-14 yrs. Under 15 .yrs. i.e. born in year IW 1962 1961-59 1958-49 Total Primary Immunisation 308 225. 29 11 373 Re-inforcing injection ‘ 2 153 227 253 - 655 Table of comparison shov/ing the number of children immunised in i960. 1961, 1962 and 1963, and the number of births in 1963. No. of Live Births Primary Immunisation Re-inforcing In.jection ~9^ i960 1^ 1963 i960 1961 1962 1963 718 50A 608 499 573 510 54c 766 635
    There was a substantial improvement in the number of children immunised in 19^3, being approximately 80% of the number of births, vaccination against whooping cough Primary Vaccination Age at 31.12.63 i.e. born in year Under 1 yr. 1963 1 year 1962 2-4 yrs, 1961'-59 3-1^ yrs. 195$>49 Under 15 yrs Total 307 125 26 5 463 Protection against whooping cough is of the greatest importance in early infancy, VACCINATION AGAINST SMALLPOX The following table sets received during the year:- out the details of the records of vaccination Under 2-4 9-14 15 or 1 yr. 1 jr. yrs. yrs. over Total Vaccination 38 71 8 14 9 136 Re-vaccination 1 1 Vaccination against smallpox is nov/ recommended in the second year. TUBERCULOSIS New Cases Children C~^ yrs, 9-1^ yj^s. All persons Respiratory Meninges and C.N.S. Other forms Total: 6 Deaths Male Female Respiratory Meninges and C.N.S, Other forms Tuberculosis Register The number of cases on the regie ter at 31st December, 1963., was as follows:- Pulmonary Non-pulmonary All forms Male Female Total Male Female Total Total 48 34 82 2 9 11 93 There were no deaths from either respiratory or other forms of tuberculosis, but six new cases were notified, demonstrating that sources of infection in the community do exist. Treatment today is rapid and effective and tuberculosis could be eliminated if the preventive measures were fully implemented, lUll support for Mass Radiography, tracing contacts and B.C.G, vaccination is essential.
    PUBLIC HEALTH Food and Drup:s Act 1938 - Clean Food and Food Hygiene Byolawo made under Section 15 of the Food and Drugs Act., 1938> are in force for securing hygienic methods in the handling, v/rapping and delivery of food for sale in the open air. The Food Hygiene Regulations require that clean food should be dealt v;ith only by clean persons in clean premises, using clean equipment. Food shops and similar establishments are inspected regularly to ensure that food is wholesome and that the premises comply v/ith require- ments. NATIONAL ASSISTANCE ACT, 1948 Section T? - Removal to Suitable Premises of Persons in need of care and attention National Assistance (Amendment) Act 1951 ~ Section 1 These Acts give local authorities power to apply to the Courts for the compulsory removal of aged or sick persons who are living in insanitary conditions and are unable to provide for themselves and are not receiving from other people, proper care and attention. It was not necessary to take action for the compulsory removal of any person to hospital, but a number of persons were kept under observation. The Home Help Service and Old leople's Welfare Committee have been of great assistance to many elderly people, enabling them to carry on in their own homes. Old People * s VJelfare Committee The Council Viavo set up an Old People's Welfare Committee to co ordinate the efforts of voluntary workers on behalf of old people in the Rural District. This Committee has proved most useful, it meets quarterly and is attended by representatives from each parish, who report on the local situation. Problem Families The scheme agreed between the County Council and District Council for the rehabilitation of problem families, continued to operate during the year. Under the scheme, the County Council guarantee 73% of the rent if the case is accepted, IVhen arrears of rent are such as to render a family liable to eviction from a Council house, the circumstances are reported to the County Social Welfare Officer. There were AO families under supervision at the beginning of the year. Eighteen families were successfully rehabilitated, the arrears of rent being cleared and the problems in. the home resolved. Eleven new cases were accepted and at the end of the year, thirty three families were being supervised. By means of this scheme, active measures are taken to help problem families towards rehabilitation. GENERi'iL PROVISIONS FOR HEALTH SERVICES Laborato-ry Facilities Samples of water, milk and ice-cream and pathological specimens are sent for bacteriological analysis to the Public Health Laboratory.., Walton Street, Oxford. The laboratory is part of the Public Health Laboratory Service of the Ministry of Health and no charge is made for making use of its services. Specimens for chemical examination are submitted to the City Analyst, Bristol or to the County and City Analyst, Worcester.
    HOME HELP SERVICE This service is organised by the County Council and a charge is made according to a scale of assessment. The Home Help takes over the running of the home where the housewife is temporarily incapacitated through illness. As noted elsev.'here^ the Service is very useful to old people who can no longer manage because of infirmity. lor assistance from the Home Help Service should be made to the divisional health Office^ Council Offices^ Copt Elm Road, oharlton Kings, Cheltenham. Telephone number:- Cheltenham 257^6 and 257^7. Ihirsing in the Home The area is covered by the District Nursing Association under the control of the County Council. Information is available from the Council Offices or the Divisional Health Office, Charlton Kings. CHILD WELFARE CENTRES Gloucestershire County Council Apperley Ashchurch Bishops Cleeve Dumbleton Leckhampton Frestbury The Reddings Shurdington Stanv/ay Tv/yning ’Warden Hill V/inchcoinbe Wit combe &: Bent ham Gotherington (Mobile Unit) Sv/indon Village (Mobile Unit) 2nd V/ednesday and last Thursday A.lternate Tuesdays Each Wednesday Ath Friday Each Friday Each Tuesday 2nd and Ath Thursdays 1st and 3rd V/ednesdays 2nd Friday 2nd Thursday Each Tuesday 1st and 3rd Tuesdays Ist and 3rd Tuesdays 1st ’Wednesday 2nd Tuesday These centres are under the administration of the County Council. Nearly all mothers and babies attend. The bulk of the work falls upon the ladies of the local Voluntary Committees and the thanks of the community are due to them for their devotion to this work. PUBLIC 3WIMI-iING BATHS Stanton Open air Pool This concrete lined pool has a capacity of 70,000 gallons and is situated a few hundred yards to the east of the village. During the summer months it is in constant use, not only by bathers from Stanton and the surrounding villages, but also by visitors to the Gloucestershire Education Authority's Summer Youth Camp, close by. While the pool is maintained and administered by the Parish Council, the v;ater is supplied by the Rural District Cou^'cil, at a reduced rate. Chlorination is carried out by means of sulphate of ammonia and chloros and the pool is emptied, thoroughly cleansed and re filled at approximately fortnightly intervals. Samples for bacteriological examination are taken periodically.