[Report 1964] / Medical Officer of Health, Eastbourne County Borough.

  • Eastbourne (England). County Borough Council.
Date:
1964
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1964] / Medical Officer of Health, Eastbourne County Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    8/132 (page 6)
    Statistical The Registrar General’s mid-year estimate of population of 63,530 represented an increase of 1,520 over the previous year, a rise ot 2-45 per cent. This percentage increase for the year was exceeded by only one other County Borough. The rapid rate of increase began in 1961 and has been sustained. The actual increase between mid-1960 and mid-1964 being 5,590, a rise of 9-65 per cent, in the space of four years, representing the highest rate of increase for any County Borough during that period. A comparable rate of increase has also taken place in the adjacent County area. Whilst the birth rate was also rising during that period, it is evident that the prime cause of the increase is inward migration. In 1964 the birth rate at 14-08 (corrected) remained high in relation to the post-war years, but had levelled off slightly fromthe previous year when it was 15-68 (corrected). Whilst there was a downward tendency in the death rate (crude and corrected) in relation to previous recent years, there was an increase in cancer death rate (page 17) which at 3-51 reached the highest recorded figure. The incidence of cancer of the lung continued the pattern of increase which has been a national feature for some years past. The figure of 52 deaths was the highest ever recorded and has more than doubled in less than ten years, giving point to continued propaganda in favour of the elimination of cigarette smoking. The age increase of these deaths is set out for the first time and appears on page 16. It is to be noted that the youngest of such deaths occurred in a female aged 40. The age of incidence of deaths due to coronary disease is also set out on page 16. Whilst coronary thrombosis may well be a merciful way of passing when life’s span has drawn to its close, some 48 of the 207 deaths occurred under the age of 65 and could be described as a premature cause of death. On a national scale, the incidence reaches down into the forties and thirties, even more dramatically than is apparent from this year’s local figures. Premature coronary thrombosis is an important challenge to preventive medicine. The total of deaths resulting from accident (35) appears to have been the highest ever recorded. It should be noted that no more than two of these was due to road accidents, emphasising the necessity for sustained activity directed towards home, industrial and water safety. Also for the first time, and consequent upon an enquiry from the Medical Research Council, I am including an analysis of the age incidence of suicides for the years 1954 to 1964 on page 18 which, in spite of an elderly population, illustrates the highest incidence in the group 46+ which I consider to be a period of particular strain, where the demands of both young and old are often brought to bear simul- taneously and may well justify the coining of a phrase such as “mediatrics” to focus attention on the medical and social requirements of middle age.