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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The figures have been supplied by the Liaison officer of the unit

MalesFemalesTotal
Miniature X-Rays taken2,327 (3,159)2,087 (2,332)4,414 (5,491)
Recalled for large films63 (87)54 (55)117 (142)
Analysis of large films:—
No further action35 (52)33 (27)68 (79)
Referred to Chest Clinics16 (14)11 (20)27 (34)
To return to Unit for recheck at later date9 (17)8 (6)17 (23)
Failed to attend for large film3 (4)2 (2)5 (6)

CLEAN FOOD CAMPAIGN.—Continuous efforts were made, mainly through the Food Inspectors, to improve the
standards of public eating places and food shops. In detail the improvements are small—a hot water supply provided
here, the tiling of a room there—but they represent a steady rise in the mechanics of cleanliness.
By drawing the attention of managers and individual staff to malpractices whenever found, and by constantly
emphasising the necessity for scrupulous cleanliness where food is concerned, the attitude of the men and women behind
the counters has been improved in many instances. This work cannot be shewn by statistics, however, and is often
not given its full value.
Many cases of food poisoning are still found to be caused by food kept at home under unhygienic conditions. The
majority of the people thus affected would have been untouched by local leaflets, films or lectures on the dangers of food
poisoning. This lends weight to the personal and individual approach. To be fully successful campaigns such as the
Clean Food Campaign must be nation-wide and have the weight of the press and cinema behind them.
It cannot be too strongly stressed that the success of any "Clean Food" campaign depends a great deal on the
insistence by the shopping public on hygienic handling of food by the shop assistants; and by the housewife herself
using every care in the storage of food and the preparation of meals in the home. So many elementary precautions
such as seeing that everyone washes the hands after using the water-closet, covering any sores on the hands when
preparing food and keeping all food covered from flies, if practised consistently, would go a long way to preventing any
risk of possible infection. Briefly, constant vigilance is necessary, and expert advice on this important subject is
always obtainable from the Council's Food Inspectors.
BEXHILL HOLIDAY HOME.—The popularity of the Home continued to increase ; only about half of those who applied
were able to go because of lack of accommodation. Vacancies were allocated on the basis of previous visits and as
everyone wanted to go in the summer, June, July and August were filled with people who had never been to
" Kincardine " before. The year was uneventful except for the death, from natural causes, of one visitor.
Some structural alterations and additions to the house were necessary to comply with the local fire escape
regulations and the work was in progress at the end of the year.
Rising food prices increased the catering difficulties. The popular theory that old people are naturally small
eaters has proved incorrect. That the stay at the Home is a "real holiday," as symbolised by the early morning cup
of tea in bed, is still frequently expressed by appreciative guests.
During January, February and March (when guests go for a fortnight) 91 people were accommodated. From
April to October 475 visitors had a week at the Home.

HOUSING.

Houses unfit for human habitation:—

No. of basement rooms dealt with by closing orders234 (190)
No. of upper parts of mews premises dealt with by closing orders1 (-)
No. of houses dealt with by demolition orders or in respect of which undertakings were accepted16 (8)

Thirty-three (38) persons were displaced as a result of the Council's operations, eighteen (14) being rehoused
by the Paddington Borough Council and four (3) by the London County Council. Four (6) secured accommodation
through their own efforts and seven (15) are awaiting suitable Council vacancies.