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35
Mortuary
The mortuary attached to the Health Centre has remained available
for the reception of bodies. This mortuary is primarily intended for
the early removal from overcrowded rooms of the bodies of those dying
in them and for the isolation of the bodies of those dying from infectious
disease. It is of great value to have this provision for
use in an emergency, but other facilities have been made available by
undertakers for some years and there have been no deaths at home from
serious infectious disease for a long time in consequence only occasional
use has been made of these facilities since the war,
At the end of the year the Council had under consideration the
conversion of the portion of the Health Centre used as a mortuary
into accommodation for rodent operatives. Alternative-mortuary
accommodation being provided by an adjacent authority.
Three bodies were accommodated in the mortuary during the year.
Hairdressers
Under the London County Council (General Powers) Act 1954 power
was given to Borough Councils to require the registration of persons
carrying on the business of a hairdresser or barber and the registration
of the premises and the Council fixed the 1st February 1956 as
the appointed day on which the provisions of the Act came into force
in Finsbury.
In accordance with the Act, the Council made byelaws for the purpose
of securing the cleanliness of registered premises including the
instruments, towels and equipment used therein and also the cleanliness
of persons employed in such premises in regard both to themselves
and their clothing.These were based on the model agreed by the
metropolitan boroughs and were confirmed by the Ministry of Housing &
Local Government.
A total of 44 premises have been registered under the Act following
a detailed inspection of each establishment by the Public Health
Inspectors. In nearly every case the premises were found to be completely
satisfactory but in one or two instances it was necessary to
send a formal letter to the occupiers where certain matters required
attention.
In all, 98 visits were made to hairdressers and barbers during
1956.