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In the staff of health visitors and sanitary inspectors two changes were
rendered necessary by reason of the resignation of two of the members : Miss
A. M. Baker, who was appointed in July, 1921, and resigned on her marriage;
and Inspector D. J. Andrews, who, though he had not quite attained the age of
65, the retiring age under the Superannuation Act, felt compelled for health
reasons to tender his resignation. Mr. Andrews was first appointed to the staff
of inspectors, under the Vestry, in 1886, and had thus been engaged in this work
for a period of 38 years. During all that time he had given most faithful and
useful service, and his resignation was received with sincere regret. In his place
the Council appointed Mr. T. W. Forbes, formerly a sanitary inspector at West
Ham and Kensington. To fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Miss
A. M. Baker, the staff of health visitors was completed by the appointment of
Miss E. D. Mann, who has had wide experience of the work in Hackney, Paddington
and elsewhere.
The keeper of the public mortuary, the matron and the one female and two
male members of the staff of the shelter and baths, the caretakers at the dispensary,
the two disinfectors, the men and women attendants at the underground
conveniences, and the men employed in flushing the overground conveniences, are
also attached to the department and immediately responsible to the Public Health
Committee.
The only alteration in this part of the Committee's staff was one unfortunately
rendered necessary by the death of the mortuary keeper (Mr. J. W. Spears), who
had been attached to the department since July, 1913. Mr. Spears, who volunteered
for active service in the early days of the War, unfortunately contracted
tuberculosis during that service, eventually succumbing to the infection in July,
1924. During his absence on service, and as a result of his illness, the duties of
his post had been carried on most satisfactorily by his wife, and when the question
of filling the vacancy arose the Committee had no hesitation in recommending the
Council to give the appointment to Mrs. Spears. The appointment was made in
November, and she continues to carry out the work in as satisfactory a manner
as heretofore.
Nuisances.—In the following summary some idea of the amount of work
done in relation to nuisances is given. For details of other works carried out by
the inspectors, reference must be made to the sections dealing with housing, food,
infectious diseases, etc.
In regard to nuisances, the first point to note is that the total number of
complaints received was 3,804, as against 3,600 in 1923. The majority of these
complaints were made by the inspectors themselves, though a certain number
came from other members of the Council's staff, from voluntary health workers,
etc. In respect of nuisances, 199 statutory notices were issued, as against 261
in 1923.
Of these notices, 134 related to ordinary nuisances (dirt, dampness, etc.), 28
to verminous rooms, 7 to drains, 2 to insufficient w.c. accommodation, 6 to water
supply in tenement houses, and 22 to insufficient dust bins.
The 28 notices respecting verminous rooms were served under powers contained
in the London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1922, and referred to
59 rooms.
In 3,605 cases the nuisances were abated by the persons responsible for their
removal after receipt of a preliminary (intimation) notice advising them of the
existence of the defect. In 6 instances there was failure to carry out works after
receipt of statutory notice and legal proceedings were instituted.
Details of these cases will be found under the heading " Legal Proceedings in
connection with Nuisances,"