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4
New legislation and particularly the Housing Act, 1961 , will
assist in still further improving standards especially in a Borough
such as Hampstead where a great many houses are in multiple
occupation.
The Food Inspector has been able to maintain the momentum
of improvement in the preparation, storage and sale of food and
although there will always be some mistakes due to ignorance or
carelessness, the number of serious cases has been very small.
The Hampstead Heath Fairs are now regarded as models so far as
the sale of food at such gatherings is concerned, but this is only
because of the regular and thorough inspection on every occasion.
At the Easter Fair the weather made the Inspector's duties very
light but very uncomfortable!
Health Education is becoming of greater and greater importance
and largely due to the enthusiasm and ability of the Public
Health Inspector, Mr. G. L. Nicklin, who is mainly responsible for
this work, it is being increasingly accepted in Hampstead where the
number of talks and lectures has increased fivefold.
The Clean Air programme did not progress as rapidly as
had been hoped, mainly due to the great amount of work involved
in checking the proposals for the conversion or adaptation of fireplaces
and their approval (or otherwise) for the payment of the grant.
By reorganising the work of the assistants employed in smoke
control and because of the simplification of the procedure now required
by the Ministry, it is hoped to speed up the programme.
The care of old people continues to be an important and
difficult part of the work of the Department. The London County
Council services, including home helps and district nursing, the
Meals-on-Wheels service, the general medical practitioners and the
Hampstead Old People's Welfare Association have all given great
assistance in the endeavour to make it possible for the old people
to remain in their own homes. It must, however, be admitted that
a few of the old people are extremely uncooperative and it is at
times very difficult indeed to decide how bad the conditions can be
allowed to become before an application should be made to the Court
for the old person's compulsory removal.