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
Bethnal Green 1961
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Bethnal Green Borough]
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Disinfection and Di sinfestation The following is a summary of the routine work carried out by the disinfecting staff during the year:-
| Number of rooms disinfested | 697 |
| Articles of clothing, bedding, etc. submitted to steam disinfection | 413 |
| Articles disinfected by formalin | 367 |
| Hospital mattresses, pillows, etc. disinfected | 7,384 |
| Number of articles destroyed by request | 2,056 |
In addition , on 25 occasions rubbish which had been dumped on open
sites, etc., was sprayed with insecticide prior to removal.
The furniture and bedding of 145 families being rehoused by the
Borough Council were disinfested.
Personal Cleansing Station
During the year, 52 adults had baths for verminous conditions at the
Personal Cleansing Station , simultaneous disinfection of clothing being carried out.
In addition , 15 adults and 4 children received treatment for Scabies at
the Station. Public Health Inspectors visit and advise in all cases of Scabies and in
those cases where verminous conditions persistently recur.
During the year the mobile bathing equipment for the cleansing , by
consent, of aged persons in their own homes where the persons concerned are so
enfeebled as not to be able to attend at the Personal Cleansing Station was used on
201 occasions, as compared with 173 during 1960.
This is a complicated and difficult service but one which is most worth
while and for which the homebound and often disabled persons concerned are very
thankful.
Laundry Service for Incontinent Persons
The arrangement with Hackney Borough Council for the laundering of
articles of bed linen and personal clothing from incontinent persons continued during
the year.