[Report 1972] / Medical Officer of Health, Middleton Borough.

  • Middleton (England). Borough Council.
Date:
1972
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1972] / Medical Officer of Health, Middleton Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    9/72 (page 7)
    The estimated mid-year population of the Borough (54,000) is an increase of 490 on the final total of the April 1971 Census. I must apologise to those readers of my mid-1960’s reports who may claim that it was then forecast that the Borough population would reach the 60,000 total. A study of the trend of population, birth rates and death rates of the Borough over the past century —and in particular the past 30 years—could, I suggest, be of immense value to a student of demography. Unfortunately, it is beyond the scope of an “ Annual Report”. The total of births (757) was a decrease of 28 on the 1971 figure, but very similar to that of 1970. The Crude birth rate of 14.0 and adjusted rate of 15.7 should be compared with the National Rate of 14.8 per 1,000. There was a rise in the proportion of Illegitimate births, and also an increase in the total of infant deaths and stillbirths over 1971 figures. I would, however, stress that the 1971 Infant Mortality Rate was particularly low and the 1972 figure (15 deaths) more in accord with the trend of figures over the past 20 years. There was a total of 594 deaths—30 more than in 1971 giving a Crude death rate of 11.0 and an adjusted rate of 14.0 to compare with a National rate of 12.1. I have included in Tables A.2 and A.3 a summary of popula¬ tion analysis and Household tenure and amenities extracted from the final report of the Registrar General’s 1971 Census. Comparing this with the 1961 Census returns, there was a deccrease of some 3,000 in total population. The total of children under 15 decreased by some 3,000, forming a lower proportion of the population (27% as against 31%), while the numbers of women over 60 and men over 65 increased by some 1,200, in¬ creasing from 10% to 12h% of the population. The total number has fallen slightly—however the proportion enjoy- basic amenities of exclusive use of a Hot Water Bath and indoor fresh water lavatory has risen by 89%. Although there are still pockets of substan- in the Borough, the overall standard of housing than any other district save one in the Greater of Households ing the three System, Fixed about 10% to dard housing stock is better Manchester con u r bait ion. Total Notifications of Infectious Disease (685) were slightly lower than in 1971. Although there was a substantial increase in Measles (592 cases) and less significant increases in Scarlet Fever and Infective Jaundice these were more than cancelled out by the fall in Whooping Cough, Dysentery and Food poisoning. While welcoming the fall in Whooping Cough, one must record some dismay at the increased prevalence of Measles, together with the fall in the number of children who received Measles vaccination the Measles vaccination campaign public confidence. One particular should be recorded, although the case was not actually notified in the Borough. This was the tragic death of a young woman from Iohalational Anthrax a few days after her return from a short holiday in Tunisia. For a few davs several officers of the Health Department were almost entirely engaged in national contact-tracing and other preventive measures. With the exception of one National daily newspaper, we enjoyed the fullest co-operation of every agency and authority in the year. It is apparent that has not yet gained substantial incident of Infectious Disease