London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Paddington 1951

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Paddington, Metropolitan Borough of]

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VENEREAL DISEASES.—The Borough Council continued to give publicity to the dangers of these diseases, and to
the facilities for treatment. A contribution was made to the funds of The National Society for the Prevention of
Venereal Diseases. There is a Special Clinic at St. Mary's Hospital.
NATIONAL ASSISTANCE ACT, 1948.
Section 47—Removal to suitable premises of persons in need of care and attention.—No (one) Orders for compulsory
removals were applied for during the year. Two hundred and forty one (340) visits, however, were made by the lady
inspectors in connection with aged persons.
It is sometimes possible to alleviate the conditions found by calling on the social services such as home helps and
the National Assistance Board, or by drawing the attention of relatives to the circumstances. Whenever a wish to enter
an Institution is expressed the Admissions Officer of the London County Council is asked to pay a visit with a view
to arranging this.
The National Assistance (Amendment) Act, 1951, came into force on the 1st September, 1951. This Act simplifies
the procedure for the compulsory removal of persons in need of care and attention as defined in Section 47 of the 1948
Act, but limits the period of detention to three weeks instead of three months as in the main Act.
Section 50—Burial or cremation of the dead.—During the year 39 (35) burials were arranged.
MORTUARY.—The rather makeshift arrangements made for viewing the bodies and for the interviewing of relatives
by the Mortuary Superintendent and Coroner's Officer following the destruction of the Coroner's Court by enemy
action have, from time to time, been a source of embarrassment to the visitors and officers alike.
As will be readily realised, strict privacy is essential in conducting interviews with bereaved relatives and other
interested persons and to achieve this it has often been necessary to ask callers to wait outside irrespective of the climatic
conditions.
Certain difficulties have prevented an improvement being effected but it is hoped that more satisfactory
accommodation will be provided in the very near future which will overcome the inconvenience which is often suffered
by members of the public who have to attend at the mortuary.

Details of the work at the mortuary are given below:—

Bodies received at mortuary356(345)
Inquests held108(94)
Coroner's certificates issued239(243)
Post mortem examinations made309(294)
Bodies received to await burial9(8)

WATER SUPPLY.—No (one) water supply certificates under Section 95 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936,
were issued.
The water supply was cut off by the Water Board in seven (eight) cases on account of wastage or non-payment
of rates and the Council notified in accordance with Section 98 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936. Appropriate
action was taken by the Department for the reinstatement of supplies.
Eight (one) complaints about the quality of the water supply were received. No action was found necessary in
four cases, three complaints were remedied when the water cisterns were cleansed and one supply was referred to
the Metropolitan Water Board for further investigation. The sediment complained of in this last case proved to be
a small amount of rust disturbed by a reversal in direction of the normal flow in the mains. A further flushing of the
mains was at once carried out by the Water Board and there was no further trouble.
FUMIGATION SERVICE AND CLEANSING OF VERMINOUS ROOMS.—During the year 19 (160) rooms were fumigated
and 1,193 (1,414) sprayed for vermin by the Council at the request of owners or occupiers. It was found necessary to
serve onlv one (6) notice under Section 123 of the Public Health (London) Act. 1936.

DISINFECTING STATION AND MEDICINAL BATHS.—

Disinfection carried out :—
Weight of goods passed through the steam disinfector12½tons(21 tons)
Number of rooms disinfected after infectious disease. .305 (375)
Number of library books disinfected. .581 (608)
Scabies:—
Number of adults treated. .143 (147)
Number of children treated. .17 (20)
Number of treatments given. .262 (316)
Vermin:—HeadsBodies
Number of adults treated126 (138)189 (161)
Number of children treated66 (33)- (4)
Number of treatments given197 (179)200 (177)

School children receive treatment at the London County Council Cleansing Station and where necessary this
Department is requested to investigate contacts or home conditions.