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

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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London

Southwark 1952

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Southwark, Borough of]

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Table: Summary of works completed during 1952 as a result of Notices served following inspections under the Housing Consolidated Regulations, 1925/1932:—

Summary of works completed during 1952 as a result of Notices served following inspections under the Housing Consolidated Regulations, 1925/1932:—

Drains repaired and/or cleansed52
Inspection chambers constructed3
W.C. pans and seats repaired or renewed5
Flushing apparatus repaired or renewed7
Soil pipes and ventilating shafts repaired or renewed1
Chimney stacks repaired or rebuilt19
Chimney pots provided and flaunched50
Sinks provided or renewed51
Dwellings provided with internal water supply30
Waste pipes provided or repaired60
Gullies provided6
Yards paved, repaired or drained12
Dustbins provided and chutes repaired16
Accumulations of filth, etc., removed27
Roofs and gutters repaired or renewed44
Parapet walls rebuilt5
Rain-water pipes repaired or renewed26
Dampness remedied38
Window frames, sashes and glazing repaired (Number of rooms483
Cills and reveals repaired225
Sashcords renewed (Number of rooms)354
Fireplaces, ranges and flues repaired42
Floors repaired or renewed26
Brickwork repaired and pointing renewed46
Walls repaired or rebuilt2
Staircases repaired14
Staircases cleansed and redecorated8
Walls and ceilings repaired and decorated (number of rooms)588
Doors repaired or renewed54
Ventilated food cupboards provided49
Ventilated lobbies provided to water closets15
Sub-floor ventilation provided or increased3
Total2,361

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REHOUSING
Whilst there was a considerable increase in the number of
applicants who sought the assistance of the Public Health
Department for rehousing on medical, overcrowding or sanitary
grounds, there was a continuation of the decline in new cases of
overcrowding reported. There is, however, practically no
improvement yet in the number of such cases rehoused.
Illegal overcrowding is sometimes deliberately caused in an
effort to secure priority rehousing, and although under existing
conditions it is seldom practicable to take action in these cases,
the most careful investigations are made to ensure that they do
not receive recommendations for rehousing.
The housing shortage renders it necessary to impose severe
limitations in recommending only the most serious medical
cases. Although medical recommendations during the year
were only two less than those made in 1951, sixteen fewer cases
were rehoused.