[Report 1967] / Medical Officer of Health, Shrewsbury Borough.

  • Shrewsbury (England). Borough Council.
Date:
1967
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1967] / Medical Officer of Health, Shrewsbury Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    15/44 (page 13)
    It is not easy to be dogmatic as to what particular factors account for this improvement, which is nation-wide, and most would claim that the efforts of their particular vocation were of the greatest importance. However, most improvements—ante-natal care, hous¬ ing, nutrition, the virtual elimination of the infectious diseases as killers—are part of the picture of a better standard of living, just as are refrigerators, central heating, the telephone and even television. Causes of death in the 15-65 years age group are, from the economic aspect, whether nationally or at family level, of great interest. There were 47 deaths only between 15-55 and 80 deaths between 55-65. In the first mentioned age group the main cause of death, vascular lesions of the nervous system and coronary disease (16) was followed by cancer (13) and a close third, accidents and suicide, which could be labelled preventable. Medical science may reduce the likelihood of death from cardio vascular disease and from cancer in the not too distant future. It might not be con¬ sidered to be the province of medical science but of community care to reduce the deaths from accidents and suicide. In the age group 55-65, pre-retirement, diseases of the circu¬ latory system, including stroke and coronary disease, are the big killers. Whether or not release from managerial responsibility at an earlier age than is the practice at present would lower this figure, is an interesting question. Two-thirds of the total deaths were in the over 65 group and 45% of all deaths in the year were people over 75. The ideal situation would be, of course, for most people to reach this age in an active state physically and mentally and then die peacefully after a short illness or even without any illness. A comparison between the adjusted death rate of Shrewsbury and the rate for England and Wales is as follows :— Death rate per 1,000 population England and Wales Shrewsbury 11.2 10.6