View report page

7
the year. Every one of them was investigated and the proper steps taken to deal with it.
These complaints are brought to me by post from residents of the Borough or by personal
attendance at the counter of the public health department. Sometimes they come over the
telephone, and often they are anonymous. They are brought, not only by the complainant,
but by social workers, friends, members of the Borough or County Council and they are
forwarded by Government offices—and I have even received one which had been made to
H.M. the Queen. I know the Council will need no assurance from me that they receive the
same attention, no matter from what source they come, and even if they are anonymous, for
if there is existent in the Borough a state of affairs which is injurious to health it must be
at least investigated, and if justified every step must be taken, within the limits of present
conditions, to abate it. 6,567 intimation notices were served, which is approximately 800 more
than in 1947 and 3,858 more than in 1945. Where a nuisance is not abated on an intimation
notice a statutory notice is served; and in 1948, 3,498 were served. It would appear from
comparison with the previous year that the proportion of work carried out on an intimation
notice was greater in 1948 than in 1947, and I would like to express my appreciation of this
to the owners of property in the Borough. Prompt attention to defects on intimation notices
does relieve the department of unnecessary work. It is a reflection, too, of increased harmony
between landlords and sanitary inspectors. Unfortunately we had to take police court
proceedings in 212 cases as compared with 133 in 1947 and 57 in 1946. £166 was recovered
in fines and £229 in costs, considerably more than the sums of £3 and £86 respectively in 1946.
If the number of police court proceedings indicates the determination of the Council fo secure
that sanitary defects shall be remedied and recalcitrant landlords forced to carry out their
responsibility, it nevertheless represents a considerable waste of both time and money.
May I say here and now that on the whole I am receiving the co-operation of the landlord,
whose lot in many cases is by no means enviable to-day, but that there appear to be some
owners of property who are prepared to delay carrying out essential work until forced to do
so by the process of law.
Housing.
The closest contact exists between the Housing Department and the Public Health
Department and I am indebted to Mr. Davey and the Housing Department for the happy
daily co-operation which has existed throughout the year.
In every case where rehousing is requested on medical grounds or because conditions
inimical to health are stated to exist, the Health Department investigates the position and
makes the appropriate recommendation to the Housing Department. In many cases this
necessitates correspondence between me and the patient's medical attendant, and I am
grateful to the general practitioners of St. Pancras for their assistance in this matter.
During the year 1948 I investigated 1,235 housing applications, and the recommendations
I made were as follows :—
Certificate A—Urgent priority 671
Certificate B—Priority less serious 247
Certificate C—General waiting list 214
Certificate D—No special consideration 103
1,235
In every case a visit is made to the home to ascertain the number and ages of the
residents, the number and sizes of the rooms they occupy, the floor on which the rooms are
(6594) a 4