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The food industry is an important one in the City.
Consequently much emergency work arose after damage to food premises.
The reclamation ofnfood on the site, its conveyance to a special
place for inspection and its subsequent return for sale for human
consumption, disposal for the food of animals, or use for industrial
purposes. It is gratifying to record that of many tons of food
examined, over 80% proved in reality to be undamaged and remained fit
for human consumption. During one period, four of the Inspectors
were devoting full time to the examination and reclamation of food
from damaged premises.
Public Shelters: The Medical Officer of Health is
responsible for the general hygiene in shelters and the medical
supervision and nursing services for the inmates. Standards of air
space, methods of ventilation, heating and lighting, and arrangements
for sanitary conveniences were recommended. Four Inspectors were
detailed for night inspections of these shelters throughout the City,
working on a 24 hour rota. The occurrence of infectious disease
among shelterers was very slight, but what is more important there
was no evidence of any spread of infection. Careful observation was
kept on verminous conditions among persons and their effects. Those
instances which did occur were so few and so promptly dealt with
that no opportunity for infestation was permitted. In conjunction
with the Ministry of Health considerable and extended experiment was
made of entiseptic sprays and mists to reduce the germ content of the
air where many people congregated. In collaboration with the
Bacteriologists of the Harvard University Medical Unit and the
Ministry of Health some interesting research was begun relating to
respiratory organisms among shelterers. Whatever the cause may be
the fact remains that during 1940 the health of shelterers was
remarkably good. The Council should take credit for anticipating the
wishes of Central Authority by organising a complete medical and
nursing service throughout the public shelters within its control.
By a system of complete collaboration between medical practitioners,
specially engaged trained nurses, the voluntary hospitals with their
medical and nursing staffs, and the personnel of St.John Ambulance
Brigade and British Red Cross Society, measures for the medical care
of the shelterers were assured.
Diphtheria Immunization: Opportunities and facilities for
this most desirable form of protection were extensively provided. By
arrangement with the London County Council, school children were
included and also many children in shelters normally resident in other
districts. The total thus protected up to date number 963-
Anti-Typhoid Inoculation: Members of the public and of the
Civil Defence Services, numbering 10J, requested and received
protection against Typhoid infection.
Re-Housing and Billeting: In the Spring of 1940, the
management of the headquarters of these activities was in the hands
of officers of my Department and much valuable assistance was given
by the Sanitary Inspectors and Health Visitors to those rendered
homeless. This work was later transferred to the City Valuer when
he was appointed Re-Housing Officer.
Evacuation: This activity has proceeded with varying tempo
and at times assumed a pendulum movement. At one period, as high a
proportion of mothers and children including unaccompanied school
children 60 per cent had been moved to reception areas; at another
80 per cent of these had returned. Comments were freely circulated
in 1939 about the lack of cleanliness of evacuees and accompanying
skin infections. No such complaint regarding Westminster mothers or
children has ever reached me from the health authorities of any
reception area. The scheme of evacuation for expectant mothers for
confinement has operated very well and smoothly in co-operation with
the London County Council and the County Authority of the reception
area. It will be