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
London County Council 1937
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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31
Administration
National Health Campaign
In co-operation with the Ministry of Health and the Board of Education, the
Central Council for Health Education prepared a scheme for a national campaign
to encourage the wider use of the health services. This campaign took place during
the last quarter of 1937 and the first quarter of 1938, and was inaugurated on
30th September, 1937, by the Prime Minister, who delivered an address, which was
broadcast. The first month was devoted to arousing public interest in the health
services in general. The slogan " Use your health services " was the keynote.
The Council assisted the Central Council during this period of the campaign
by arranging for the distribution of copies of pamphlets and posters through the
schools organisation, the public assistance offices and the housing estates. In
addition it was decided to issue a small eight-page pamphlet for free distribution
describing briefly the health services of the Council. This pamphlet was entitled
" Highways to Health," and 400,000 copies were printed and distributed through
the schools organisation, the Metropolitan Borough Councils and certain departments
of the Council with which the public have direct contact.
During the months of November and December publicity material was distributed
by the Metropolitan Borough Councils and through the public assistance
offices and housing estates to encourage the increased use of the services available
for mothers and children at ante-natal clinics, welfare centres and all the other
institutions provided by the maternity and child welfare schemes of the local authorities
and voluntary organisations.
Housing
A full description of the Council's housing activities and the public health
department's share therein is to be found in " London Housing," published in
May, 1937.
The programme of clearance operations adopted by the Council in 1934 embraced
a period of three years ending in June, 1937. At the end of the year 1936 the
position regarding the progress made in respect of the programme was reviewed,
and the Council on 15th June, 1937, approved a further programme for the period
1937-40.
The number of properties forming the subject of "representations" by the medical officer of health under the Housing Acts, 1930 and 1936, which have been submitted to the Housing and Public Health Committee is as follows:—
| Areas | Houses | "Other buildings" included under the terms of section 40(2) of the Housing Act, 1936, or the equivalent section of the previous Housing Act | |
|---|---|---|---|
In addition, notifications under section 33 of the Housing Act, 1936, of their
intention to deal with certain houses as clearance areas were received during the
year from Metropolitan Borough Councils in respect of 125 areas, comprising 1,948
houses ; of these, 11 areas involving 261 houses were considered to be more suitable
for action by the Council. The Borough Councils concerned were therefore informed
accordingly. In addition, one redevelopment area (Clarendon-street) was notified
by the Paddington Borough Council under section 37 of the Housing Act, 1936.
The following table shows, in respect of each metropolitan borough, (a) the
number of houses during the year represented by medical officers of the Council's
public health department, and (b) the number of houses included in notifications
from the Borough Councils, together with (c) the number of such houses which,
Clearance
area
operations