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

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Deptford 1912

Annual report on the health of the Metropolitan Borough of Deptford

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127
Provided that nothing in this sub-division of this article
shall be deemed to authorise a Local Authority to take any of
the measures herein mentioned at any Institution other than
one belonging to the Local Authority.
2. A Local Authority on the advice of their Medical
Officer of Health may provide and publish or distribute suitable
summaries of information and instruction respecting Tuberculosis,
and the precautions to be taken against the spread of
infection from that disease.
Sanatorium Benefits for London.
Much anxiety has been exercised by the Public Health
Department as to whether sufficient sanatorium accommodation
will be procured both for its insured and uninsured inhabitants,
and it is interesting to learn that at a meeting of the Metropolitan
Asylums Board held in October, on the receipt of letters from
borough councils with reference to sanatorium accommodation
in London, Professor W. R. Smith, the vice-chairman, said the
board had already taken action with respect to this matter, and
had passed a resolution to the effect that it was willing and able
to place at the disposal of the authorities some 800 or 1,000
beds, that number corresponding with the requirements laid
down by the departmental committee. Subsequently a conference
representing 24 London boroughs had unanimously
agreed that the board was the proper body to deal with the
matter. From the point of view of London, this was an
extremely important question, one which involved not only the
matter of the better treatment for tuberculosis, but also the
question of expenditure. But in the 16th section of the National
Insurance Act, sub-section 8, there were the words "other than
Poor Law authorities." That was the difficulty in which
London was placed owing to what he ventured to say was the
improper inclusion of London in the Act. Those who legislated