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22
PART III
ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE
Staff—Inspectorial
Thei establishment of ^Public Health Inspectors consists of a Chief Public
Health Inspector, Deputy Chief Public Health Inspector, eight District Inspectors,
one Food and Drugs Inspector, one Public Health Inspector in charge of Clean Air,
and one Woman Inspector, who is also the Public Health Welfare Officer.
An additional Inspector commenced duties in December but despite continued
advertisements two vacancies remained unfilled.
In May, 1960 the Council appointed two Assistants to help the Inspectors and
they were given training facilities as both of them intended to become Public Health
Inspectors. One of them, however, was called up for National Service in October
of that year.
The shortage of qualified Inspectors has resulted in a serious decline in the
number of routine visits on housing and to food premises, factories, shops, etc.,
and it is not possible to ensure that the various Acts and Regulations are being
observed.
Sanitary Circumstances
Housing
The Housing Manager continues to co-operate with the Health Department
on applicants with overcrowding or medical problems. Requests are received asking
for inspections to be made with a view to ascertaining whether a family is living
in overcrowded conditions. Enquiries are then made by the Public Health Inspector,
and, if a family is found to be living in such conditions, overcrowding is duly
certified.
In instances where the request is accompanied by medical certificates supporting
the family's application on medical grounds, very careful consideration is given
that the recommendations are made only for the most urgent cases, having regard
to the nature of the illness, the condition of the premises and the amenities available.
Applications for rehousing by the London County Council are made to that
authority direct, and requests for various enquiries to be made are received from
that Council through the Housing Manager. In cases where there is medical evidence,
the Medical Officer of Health to the London County Council is responsible for
allocating priorities on health grounds. Rehousing on such grounds has however
become very substantially reduced, as new building is almost wholly confined to
rehousing people from slum clearance areas. 5 cases were recommended for rehousing
on grounds of health, 71 on grounds of overcrowding and 2 for exchange
accommodation.
I append a table showing the number of cases recommended for rehousing
under the headings mentioned above, and those actually rehoused from 1949.