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(5)
There was a minor oat break of Typhoid Fever involving nine
persons all of whom completely recovered. Concurrently and making
the position a little involved there was an extensive outbreak of
foodborne Sonne Dysentery. This is dealt with by Dr. C.A. Meade,
Deputy Medical Officer of Health, in another part of the report.
Immediate action was taken; otherwise there was a likelihood of the
persistence of Sonne Dysentery for months. One case of Paralytic
Poliomyelitis was confirmed during the year in an infant of 10 weeks.
It is good to report that the infant completely recovered and no
paralysis remained. Again no one in Fulham has suffered from
Diphtheria since 1949.
I regret to report that there is still a shortage of Sanitary
Inspectors throughout the country and Local Authorities are finding it
more and more difficult to fill vacancies. This shortage is having a
serious effect on the work as at present only the most important items
of the Sanitary Inspectors work can be carried out. In order to ease
this situation this Council was amongst the first in the Metropolitan
Area to initiate during the year, a scheme to admit candidates for
practical training as Sanitary Inspectors in the Public Health Department.
Two such Students are now in the process of completing their
course of training.
The number of nuisance complaints has consistently dropped since
1952 and a measure of house to house inspection was resumed during the
year, but it was subsequently found impossible to continue these
inspections owing to shortage of staff.
The Housing Repairs and Rents Act, 1954, became operative on
the 30th August, It requires, amongst other things, that the Local
Authority should issue certificates of disrepair if premises are found
to be not in a state of good repair where notices of increased rent have
been issued. It also deals with Hostels, Lodging Houses and other
Houses let in Multiple Occupation, cancels existing bye-laws for such
premises and introduces new standards. A considerable amount of property
in Fulham comes into this category. It also requires Local
Authorities to present to the Minister of Housing and Local Government
before August, 1955, a Slum Clearance etc. programme. In the case of
the Metropolitan Boroughs this programme is an agreed one by each Borough
Council with the London County Council.
I must report that many properties still continue in occupation
which are not worth continual patching up.