London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Beckenham 1953

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Beckenham]

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Moveable Dwellings.
Eleven families occupied moveable dwellings under licence from
the Council during 1953.
Frequent inspections of the sites of the caravans were made and in
no instance was a Public Health nuisance discovered.
Factories Act, 1937.
Four hundred and twenty-eight visits of inspection were made to
factories in the area and the following nuisances were remedied following
the service of Intimation Notices :—
Want of cleanliness 8
Unsuitable or defective sanitary conveniences 44
Insufficient sanitary accommodation 2
Unreasonable temperature1
Shops Acts.
One thousand, five hundred and forty-two visits were paid in
connection with the Shops Acts..
Twenty-four contraventions were discovered and remedied.
Mortuary.
The administration of the Beckenham Mortuary is the responsibility
of the Public Health Department, the Mortuary Attendant being
a member of the Medical Officer's staff.
During 1952, 131 bodies were brought to the Mortuary where post
mortem examinations were conducted by a Home Office Pathologist.
The Mortuary Attendant is responsible, under supervision, for the
maintenance and cleanliness of the building, the reception and collection
of bodies, assistance at Post Mortems, and the preparation and arrangement
of a Town Hall room for the purposes of Inquest. Charge is
taken of any clothing or valuables found on deceased persons and
next-of-kin are immediately informed.
National Assistance Act, 1948.
Burial and Cremation of Dead.
Section 50 of this Act places responsibility on a local authority
for the burial of persons who have died, or been found dead in their
area where it appears that no suitable arrangements for disposal have
been made.
During 1953, four burials had thus to be arranged. In all but one
ease, the Council was able to recover the costs involved, either from the
deceased person's estate, or from an interested relative or friend.
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