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 1960
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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GENERAL PUBLIC HEALTH Housing
| 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recommendations received | 421 | 321 | 275 | 232 | |
| Nominated for rehousing | 185 | 151 | 185 | 209 | |
| Recommendations not qualifying for rehousing | 135 | 132 | 114 | 93 | |
| Under consideration at end of year | 101 | 139 | 115 | 45 | |
| Recommendations received | 2,484 | 2,474 | 2,689 | 3,357 | |
| Nominated for rehousing | 226 | 478 | 418 | 607 | |
| Recommendations not qualifying for rehousing | 1,904 | 1,617 | 1,951 | 2,503 | |
| Under consideration at end of year | 354 | 733 | 1,053 | 1,300 | |
| Work in connection with unfit houses during the past five years is summarised below: | |||||
| Areas represented as unfit for human habitation. | 70 | 90 | 77 | 27 | 48 |
| Houses in such areas | 3,436 | 2,409 | 1,830 | 660 | 1,356 |
| Areas surveyed but not represented by the end of the year | 111 | 81 | 11 | 13 | 39 |
| Houses in such areas | 3,255 | 2,004 | 312 | 641 | 1,291 |
| Public local inquiries | 37 | 28 | 36 | 37 | 42 |
| Informal hearings | 4 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Orders confirmed | |||||
| (i) after inquiry or hearing | 28 | 45 | 33 | 42 | 41 |
| (ii) without inquiry or hearing (no objection received) | 9 | 13 | 14 | 28 | 15 |
| Orders not confirmed by Minister | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| Surveys following applications to the Council | 92 | 68 | 119 | 160 | 1,178 |
| Searches following applications to metropolitan borough councils | 193 | 158 | 103 | 346 | 572 |
| 1,439 | 1,094 | 1,229 | 1,013 | * | |
* The functions with regard to dangerous structures were, by the London County Council (General Powers)
Act, 1958, transferred to the metropolitan borough councils as from 1 January, 1960.
During the year surveys in connection with the preparation of the third post-war
quinquennial (1961-65) slum clearance programme were completed. Approximately
11,000 houses were agreed with the metropolitan borough councils as suitable for inclusion
in the programme.
Public Health Laboratory
The facilities at the Medical Research Council's Public Health Laboratory at the County
Hall and the close co-operation with its staff have continued to be of great value.
Milk sampling
Since 1908 it has been the practice of the Council to take samples of liquid milk arriving
by road or rail from the provinces and to submit them to biological examination to ascertain
the extent to which the milk on its arrival in London is infected with tuberculosis. The
medical officers of health concerned have been informed of any samples found to be
infected. In view of the Tuberculosis Eradication Scheme which now covers most of the
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