London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London

Woolwich 1954

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Woolwich]

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SANITARY ADMINISTRATION
Sanitary Inspection of the Area.
During 1954 the Sanitary Inspectors carried out 37,724 inspections, including
re-inspections, being over 7,000 more inspections than during the previous year.
The nature of these inspections is shown in Table No. 7. As a result of these
inspections 1,461 intimation notices and 594 statutory notices were served.
Complaints.
There was a considerable increase in the number of complaints received during
the year—3,048 compared with 2,026 in 1953.
Any necessary action was taken where complaints were made or nuisances
discovered.

Table: Table No. 7. Inspections.

Table No. 7. Inspections.

Complaints investigated1,955Water sampling and testing171
Complaints reinspected5,420Rodent Control2,924
Outworkers' premises'346Smoke Observations43
Houses re overcrowding130Theatres and cinemas10
New houses re water supply443Men's lavatories132
Houses re infectious disease1,134Women's lavatories60
Houses re smallpox contacts9Rag and bone dealers3
Houses re vermin369Houses re choked drains200
Woolwich Borough Council housing applicants re vermin1,069Houses, visits with owners, builders, etc.487
Houses re scabies41Houses re slum clearance and redevelopment1,658
Houses re Housing Act306
House-to-house inspections2,647Drainage inspections948
Houses re Rent Restrictions Acts80Houses re verminous persons98
Aged and Infirm persons2,716Rag Flock premises8
Common Lodging Houses18Pet Animals premises60
Tents and Vans238Houses re requests for permitted numbers319
Factories mechanically powered406
Factories non-mechanically powered30Offensive tradesDaily
Visits re insect and other pests126
Work places58Houses re disinfection or destruction of articles42
Shops re Shops Act inspections738
Food premises4,628Marshes, ditches, pools, water
Itinerant vendors21courses, static water tanks, etc.70
Complaints re food31Stables36
Shops re Pharmacy and Poisons28Miscellaneous visits2,102
National Assistance Act re burial of deceased persons4Non-effectual visits4,799
Exhumations31
Atmospheric Pollution532

Table: Table No. 8. Nuisances Abated.

Table No. 8. Nuisances Abated.

Dirty conditions remedied374Areas and yards paved or repaired32
Roofs repaired534
Gutters, rainwater pipes, etc., repaired or renewed318Sinks repaired or renewed71
Drains cleansed252
Damp walls and other damp conditions remedied1,744Drains repaired or reconstructed208
Combined drains repaired or reconstructed6
Fireplaces, hearths, etc., repaired or renewed157
Water closets cleansed and repaired305
Floors, skirting and other woodwork197
Water closet pans and traps fixed119
Windows repaired or renewed468Water closet seats renewed140
Ceilings repaired or renewed214Water supply defects remedied236
Walls repaired or renewed1,043Dustbins provided126
Other dilapidations remedied69Foul accumulations remedied26
Lighting and ventilation defects remedied436Sites cleared of refuse6