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5
Water
Regular water sampling in the Borough has been carried out, as described in my
1960 report and close co-operation has been maintained with the Medical Officer of the
Metropolitan Water Board, Dr. E. Windle Taylor. All samples taken from piped supplies
have been satisfactory.
Food Hygiene
In my report for 1960 I drew attention to the low standard of food hygiene which is
accepted generally by the populace in this Country.
A further problem met with during the year was that of elderly persons who carry on
food businesses when their age makes it impossible for them to maintain or understand
proper standards of food hygiene. Two such cases occurred during the year and the
Council was reluctantly forced to take legal proceedings against both persons. One person
sold his business as a result and the other carried out improvements to his premises.
Another difficulty frequently encountered is the widespread employment in the
catering trade of foreign nationals, many of whom speak and understand little or
no English It is most difficult, if not impossible, to convey to these persons
what is meant by personal and food hygiene and one cannot but feel a certain amount of
apprehension at the potential danger which must exist in such circumstances.
Rodent Control
The idea of co-ordination of sewer treatment by Boroughs on an interconnected sewer
system put forward in last year's report has been accepted by the No. 4 Metropolitan
Workable Area Committee and it is hoped that a satisfactory programme will be drawn up
for future use by the Local Authorities concerned.
Old People
Fulham has a high proportion of elderly persons in its population and all too
frequently this Department is called upon to try to assist when someone has at last
broken down and find they can no longer cope with day to day activities.
Many of these old persons first come to our knowledge when they are living in
neglected and insanitary conditions This state of affairs does not develop overnight
and one cannot help feeling that in many cases relatives, neighbours or friends must have
noticed what is happening but, unfortunately, have taken no steps to try to help the
unfortunate person or to try to obtain help from one or other of the organisations which
would be able to assist or to advise where assistance could be obtained. Some of these
cases first come to the Department's notice when other residents in the house get worried
about the risk from fire due to the forget fulness or carelessness of the old person.
Senile old persons with mental changes are a particularly difficult problem. They
are often careless and unsociable in their habits and their standards of hygiene are
often low. This ultimately leads to complaints from neighbours, frequently justifiable.
They often resent and resist attempts to help them. This type of old person is not
suitable for care in their own home by short regular visits from home helps and district
nurses; they need constant supervision Unfortunately, neither the general nor the
mental hospitals are today able to accept this type of case and there is the greatest
difficulty in finding any alternative accommodation to which they can be sent.
The general hospitals are reluctant to admit aged persons unless they have an acute
condition which is likely to respond to treatment. Often old people are discharged from
hospital without their being able to fend for themselves but they are "cured" as far as
the condition for which they were admitted to hospital is concerned.
The problem of the care of the aged - and especially the aged sick and those with
senile mental changes needs urgent reconsideration and the provision of adequate
accommodation, in which they can be cared for - if necessary indefinitely - is long
overdue