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along this road do not need to be told that if this is the case there must be
many vehicles using the road which fail in at least one of these three respects
mentioned The section of the Report dealing with this matter mentions a
practice which has been in operation now for some years viz: if a Public Health
Inspector notices a vehicle emitting dense smoke he endeavours to obtain
identification particulars in order that a communication can be sent to the
owner of the vehicle Since Inspectors are not specifically on this duty and can
only notice a relatively small part of all the traffic passing along the trunk
road, it is significant that during the year nearly two hundred letters were
sent out by the Department drawing attention to what was considered to be
excessive emission.
No statutory action can be taken by the Department since the legislation
dealing with this matter is under the Road Traffic Act, enforceable by the
Police and not the Local Authority The facts of the emission to which the
attention of owners was drawn were not disputed in any single case. It must
also be said that in all instances co operation was promised for the prevention
of recurrence by engine check, or by calling the attention of the drivers to the
matter It is hoped that it will be possible in the future to reduce emission
from road vehicles both by stricter enforcement of existing legislation and,
perhaps more important, by investigation of methods which will mechanically
reduce exhaust emissions.
Health
Education
The Medical Officer of Health and the public Health Department are
dependent to a very considerable extent for the success of their work on the
co-operation given them by members' of the public. This co operation will not be
forthcoming without some understanding of the matters and problems involved and
health publicity and education must, therefore constitute a very important part
of the work of every Public Health Department. Education of the public is
effected not only by such publicity as posters talks, etc., but perhaps most
important of all through the Department's staff the Public-Health Inspectors
and Infectious Disease Visitors in particular by personal visitation of homes,
shops, and workplaces with the opportunity of discussing on the spot the particular
and individual problems arising out of the reason for the visit. Basically, this
is more important that the enforcement of legislation for shortcomings.
Health
Inspector
staff
Higher standards in all public health activities must depend upon the
voluntary acceptance of standards much more than on statutory action, since
apart from any other reason it is obviously quite impossible for Inspectors to
be present at day by day or hour by hour activities, for example, in connection
with food premises. It is therefore regrettable that the Department has been
able to carry out much less visiting and inspection than is desirable because
of the continued deficiency in the establishment of public Health Inspectors.
Out of a total establishment of 34 there were never less than eight vacancies
during the year The problem is a difficult one with many aspects but with a
national shortage of inspectors it is perhaps natural that many of them should
prefer to work in outer London or Home Counties areas close to their own homes
rather than in densely populated, older areas. The problem of compensating
factors has not yet been solved and the deficiency is therefore likely to
continue