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

Hampstead 1964

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hampstead Borough]

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18.
Houses in Multiple Occupation.
The team of three inspectors working under the leadership of
the Deputy Chief Public Health Inspector, Mr.F.V.Outlaw, and
augmented in June 1964 by two technical assistants has continued
to concentrate on houses in multiple occupation.
During the period under review a total of 758 properties
constituting 2,618 dwellings were inspected and reported upon.
They provided accomodation for 4,659 adults and 764 children under
the age of 10 years, within 6,707 rooms.

Table: The Code of Practice formulated by the Metropolitan Boroughs has continued to be applied as has also informal action. Additional amenities required by this standard have been provided as set out in the following table:

The Code of Practice formulated by the Metropolitan Boroughs has continued to be applied as has also informal action. Additional amenities required by this standard have been provided as set out in the following table:

Hot water supplies1,044
Baths308
Sinks449
W.C.s49
Food storage accommodation376
Space heating facilities32
Cooking facilities197

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There has been rather less tenant resistance than in 1963, but
nevertheless 40 cases have submitted certificates of refusal to
accept one or more of the additional amenities.
Seventy-eight cases of overcrowding have been reported. These
were mainly the result of natural family increases and were dealt
with informally. The usual caution was also sent to the landlords
concerned.
The period between the service of notice and the commencement of
work continues to be several months and in fact the time lag increases
with the greater number of notices served. This is due to such factors
as shortage of builders, prolonged negotiations etc. and cannot at
present be avoided.
INSPECTION AND SUPERVISION OF FOOD.
Food and Drugs Act. 1955. Food Hygiene (General) Regulations 1960.
The Food Inspector, Mr.W.F.Newport, continued regular supervision
of the quality of food sold in the borough and 495 samples were
submitted to the Public Analyst. Fourteen samples were reported upon
adversely by the Analyst compared with 22 in the previous year.