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In the meantime, sanitary complaints in regard to old housing continue to be
received in the Department in great numbers, and the great majority are dealt with
under the Public Health (London) Act, 1936. The difficulties of a number of
owners, particularly small owners, are exemplified by the number of cases, as cited
in the Report, in which there was failure to comply with Abatement Orders made
in the Courts.
The supervision of food and food premises continued to be given as much
attention as was possible. The Bye-laws for the Protection of Food came into
operation towards the end of the year, and should materially assist with raising the
standards of food premises and food preparation. Another item of food legislation
the Public Health (Meat) (Amendment) Regulations, 1952, which also came into
operation during the year, made it necessary for slaughterers of horses to give prior
notice of slaughter for human consumption to the Local Authority. In view of this
trade being carried on in the Borough, it is a matter of some local interest.
The appointment of a Deputy Medical Officer of Health in the previous year
permitted some extension during this year in the health publicity and educational
programme. The maintenance of good health and hygiene standards can only be
effected in conjunction with an informed and knowledgeable public. Frequent film
shows formed the basis of much of the Department's health publicity and it is
gratifying to be able to record that all these shows were very well attended. It is
believed that there is increasing interest on the part of the public in all aspects of
health and hygiene education.
The Census revealed something of the problem or potential problem of elderly
persons in this Borough. It is estimated that about eleven per cent. of the total
population is over the age of 65, of whom a high proportion live alone. The Borough
Council itself has limited powers to deal with many of the problems which arise in
connection with elderly persons, but it will be noted from the Report that nevertheless
over four hundred old people's cases were brought to the notice of the
Department for investigation because of a variety of difficult and unsatisfactory
circumstances. In twenty of these cases it was found necessary to take Statutory
action. The individual circumstances of these twenty cases are recorded in the
Report and it is thought, may constitute an interesting social commentary.
Apart from the limited assistance which the Council itself may be able to give,
the Department's Officers are able in a high proportion of the cases brought to their
notice, to act as a liaison for the various agencies—medical, social, welfare, voluntary,
and local authority— which can be called in to assist with one or other of the many
problems which may beset elderly people, and to which so many of them appear to
have some difficulty in finding a satisfactory personal solution. The Council during
the year increased its grants to voluntary organisations, with benefits to those who
found 'Meals-on-Wheels' of use, and to the greater number of old persons who could
be given a holiday for a week or a fortnight in the country or at the seaside, which
would otherwise have been impossible.