Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Beckenham]
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REPORT ON THE SANITARY INSPECTION OF
THE DISTRICT FOR THE YEAR 1946.
By G. A. Webber,
Chief Sanitary Inspector.
The total number of visits of inspection made by the Inspectors|
during 1946 was as follows:—
Initial Visits 4,803 Revisits 8,074
A summary of nuisances, found and remedied, is appended.
Found. | Remedied | |
---|---|---|
Structural defects—external | 494 | 342 |
„ „ —internal | 669 | 515 |
Insanitary conditions—other than vermin | 83 | 60 |
Verminous conditions | 12 | 12 |
Choked drains | 416 | 410 |
Other drainage defects | 309 | 340 |
Defective sanitary appliances | 265 | 281 |
Insufficient and/or unsuitable water supply | 19 | 23 |
Absence of dustbin | 55 | 50 |
Offensive accumulations | 33 | 29 |
Unclassified defects | 21 | 13 |
2,376 | 2,075 |
The commencement of the year brought the return of Mr. E. U.
Williams and Mr. R. C. Rogers from H.M. Forces to their preenlistment
duties as District Sanitary Inspectors. In March, 1946,
the Council appointed to the permanent staff Mr. W. Newman,
bringing the total number of District Sanitary Inspectors to four,
Further increases in the personnel of the Department were made
by the appointment of three rodent operators and a part-lira
employee to assist the whole-time Disinfector Handyman. It has
been possible with this much-needed added assistance to prepare to
build an organisation which will enable us to deal more fully with
the innumerable statutes, the enforcement of which form the basis
of the Sanitary Inspector's duties. It was a matter of regret to me
when, in December, 1946, Mr. Rogers resigned his appointment to
take up duties elsewhere.
During 1946, 1,718 complaints were received from members of
the public, alleging the existence of conditions prejudicial to health
or a nuisance. This number exceeded the 1945 figure by 278. In the
majority of cases the complaints were justified, and appropriate
action was taken in accordance with statute.
As in previous years, nuisances of a similar character were the
subject of complaint, and generally related to (a) external and
internal structural defects, (b) insanitary conditions by reasons of
choked or defective drainage. The investigations and administrative
work, necessitated by the lodging of complaints, form the major
part of the Inspectors' work. 910 Intimation Notices and 163
Statutory Notices were served in respect of nuisances discovered
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