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
Greenwich 1959
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Greenwich Borough]
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72
The present situation throws a great onus on to the Public
Health departments generally. Owing to senescence or ill health
many old persons are unable to maintain an adequate standard of
cleanliness and cases are brought to the notice of the department by
neighbours, secretaries of Old Peoples' Associations and, occasionally
by hospital almoners ; additional cases are brought to light
following the staffs visits to almshouses.
In the course of dealing with these particular problems this
department becomes somewhat of a " clearing house " and there
are very few cases brought to our notice which fail to receive
adequate help or advice.
During the year the staff dealing with this aspect of the department was increased and the following is a summary of the work carried out by the Lady Public Health Inspector and the Health Visitor during 1959:-
| No. of dirty premises inspected | 48 |
| No. of verminous premises inspected | 17 |
| No. of dirty rooms cleansed | 75 |
| No. of verminous rooms cleansed | 49 |
| No. of verminous persons visited | 24 |
| No. of verminous persons treated:-Heads | 66 |
| Other | 31 |
| No. of visits to scabies cases | 25 |
| No. of visits for Cleansing Service:-First | 53 |
| Subsequent | 71 |
| No. of articles cleansed | 21,020 |
| No. of inspections of factories:-(a) with mechanical power | 46 |
| (b) without mechanical power | - |
| (c) other premises | - |
| No. of inspections of Hairdressers' premises | 33 |
| No. of inspections of Outworkers' premises | 47 |
| No. of inspections of Houses Let-in-Lodgings | 7 |
| No. of inspections of Women's Conveniences | 10 |
| No. of Bathing Centre sessions | 115 |
| No. of Baths:-at Home | 742 |
| at Centre | 436 |
| No. of visits to Infirm Persons | 3,830 |
| No. of visits to Rest Homes, Hospitals, etc. | 32 |
| No. of visits, re: housing | 47 |
| No. of visits to Food Premises, re: Meals for O.A.Ps. | 36 |
| No. of Miscellaneous visits | 200 |
| No. of re-inspections, calls made, etc. | 288 |
| No. of interviews for Holidays | 228 |
| No. of interviews at offices | 186 |
| No. of complaints received | 48 |
| No. of Intimation Notices served | Nil |
National Assistance Act, 1948.—Section 47 of this Act enables
the Medical Officer of Health compulsorily to remove to hospital or
institution any aged or infirm persons unable, adequately to care
for themselves.