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London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1953
Section 43 of the above Act states that, on receipt of a report from
the medical officer of health or a health inspector that any aged person
within their district is verminous or is for any other reason in need of
cleansing in order to prevent injury or the danger of injury and is so
enfeebled that he is unable to avail himself of any facilities for cleansing
himself provided by the authority or to cleanse himself properly, the
sanitary authority may on application or with the consent of that
person (but not otherwise) cause him to be cleansed free of charge at
the place where he resides or at any other suitable place. The authority
is enabled to make such arrangements and provide any apparatus
required to exercise these powers.
No such cases arose during the year.
Anti-fly and anti-mosquito campaign
During the period, June to September, special measures were again
taken to deal with control of fly breeding. Regular calls were made to
potential sources, such as stables, piggeries and similar premises
throughout the Borough. Vacant sites which were well known to the
department as rubbish dumps were visited and deposits of litter removed
and the ground sprayed with insecticide when considered necessary.
Fortunately there has been a reduction in the number of vacant sites
due to building development and some improvement in the condition
of the remaining sites was noted, probably as a result of the Councils
scheme to clear rubbish from houses on request. The contractors of
blocks of flats were supplied with the necessary equipment and material
to enable them to deal with refuse chutes and chambers. The Borough
Engineer again co-operated in the treatment of dustbins with powder
supplied by the health department.
Health education
During the year the food inspectors during the course of their
routine inspections of foodshops took the opportunities offered to put
over items of health education to the occupiers, and on occasion to the
food handlers. A large number of posters were obtained from central
agencies in connection with health education generally and more particularly
perhaps with environmental hygiene and home safety.
The quarterly Bulletin on home safety continued to be distributed
to some 2,500 recipients in the borough.