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27
On the question of general fluoridation of the public water
supply, which has been the subject of much controversy in recent
years, it will be known that Wandsworth, in common with most
of the other London Boroughs, has made a decision in favour of
fluoridation. The whole question, however, rests with the Metropolitan
Water Board whose present policy is to defer any action
in the matter, pending uniformity of opinion between the local
authorities whose areas its serves.
Nursing homes
The Council controls the registration and supervision of all
nursing homes within the Borough, and its powers in this connection
are contained in the following Acts and Regulations:—
Public Health Act, 1936.
Nursing Homes Act, 1963.
The Conduct of Nursing Homes Regulations, 1963.
and, for mental nursing homes:—
Mental Health Act, 1959
The Mental Health (Registration and Inspection of Mental
Nursing Homes) Regulations, 1960.
The Conduct of Mental Nursing Homes Regulations, 1962.
There were seven registered nursing homes in the Borough at
the end of the year. During the year one nursing home and a
mother-and-baby home closed down and the registrations were
withdrawn.
Periodic visits were made to all the homes by the Department's
medical and nursing officers and public health inspectors, and in
addition to the supervision of the nursing care provided and of the
sanitary arrangements in the homes, there is a close liaison between
the Department's staff and that of the Superintending Architect
of the Greater London Council and the London Fire Brigade's
Fire Prevention Officers to ensure that fire precautions and means
of escape in case of fire are at all times satisfactory.
The categories and accommodation of the nursing homes at the
end of the year are given below, together with the number of
inspections made during the year :—
Mental nursing homes (2) 171 beds
Mother-and-baby homes (2) 38 beds
Other nursing homes (3) 67 beds
Inspections by medical and nursing officers 15
Inspections by public health inspectors 7
Hairdressers and barbers
Section 21 of the Greater London (General Powers) Act, 1967,
gave powers to London Borough Councils to require registration