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REPORT ON THE SANITARY ADMINISTRATION
of the
DISTRICT FOR THE YEAR 1954
By G. A. Webber,
Chief Sanitary Inspector, Borough of Beckenham.
Throughout the whole of 1954 there was one vacancy in the
Establishment of Sanitary Inspectors; no applications were received to
repeated advertisement.
The shortage of Sanitary Inspectors is by no means confined to
Beckenham, the majority of Authorities being similarly inconvenienced.
There has consequently been a decrease in the routine inspection of
the district. In the circumstances, we have exercised what we believe to
have been a wise discretion in preference. Certain duties have taken
pride of place. The speedy investigation of cases of notifiable diseases
has been maintained. The 1,466 complaints of alleged statutory and
other nuisances (an increase of 222 over 1953) which were received
during the year, had reasonably prompt attention. The inspection of food
premises received high priority, and, although visits to food shops were
not as methodically frequent as had previously been our aim, 1904 visits
were paid during 1954 compared to 1,986 in 1953.
The inspection of houses, in accordance with the provisions of the
Housing Acts, decreased—83 being inspected compared to 126 in 1953 ;
the number of premises visited under the Public Health and other
associated Acts declined from 3,325 in 1953 to 2,944 in 1954, and the
number of nuisances discovered fell by 547.
One hundred and eighty-three Intimation Notices and 67 Statutory
Notices were served. In 1953 the figures were 339 and 88 respectively.
One hundred and one food samples were submitted to the Public
Analyst compared to 161 in 1953. This reduction resulted in the Analyst
drawing attention to an ageing Ministerial Circular which suggests that
3 food samples per annum be taken for every 1,000 of the population.
This would mean approximately 225 samples per annum in Beckenham,
and it will be seen that we fall far below that figure. However, it is fair
comment to suggest that the need may not be so great in modern times,
particularly when it is remembered that the Circular was issued when it
was the common practice to sell "loose" milk, and the opportunity for
adulteration was greater. Nevertheless, an endeavour must be made to
increase our figure to one more in accord with the importance of the
subject.
It would, at this stage, be unreasonable to imply that the lack of
staff involves anything comparable to an immediate threat to the health
of the district ; it would be unwise to underestimate its importance. The
Sanitary Inspector is concerned with the prevention of nuisances in the
field of environmental hygiene. The passage of time may prove that it is
easier to judge the value of his work by its unavoidable neglect than by
its performance.
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