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Victorian houses are adapted for a longer life and the living conditions
of the several families occupying them are immediately improved.
The fitness of the houses and the rents are controlled. Public
health legislation for the past few years has thrown greater emphasis
on the fitness and cleanliness of buildings, structures, and appliances
than on personal health services. This is reflected in the Acts and
Regulations on Housing including slum clearance, food and clean air,
and there is an increasing tendency to lay down specific requirements
rather than to leave authorities to act only when nuisance occurs. This
can be understood in fields of health where it is difficult to be precise
as to cause and effect. There are many factors which co-operate to
cause a case of food-poisoning, and unfortunately, many investigations
are necessarily incomplete. We do not yet know the ultimate price in
ill-health and loss of amenity that we pay for the pollution of the
atmosphere.
In April, the Council considered a report on whether preliminary
action should be taken towards the establishment of a smoke control
area, or areas in the borough. This would have entailed primarily a
building to building (domestic, commercial, industrial) survey of all
boiler plant, fireplaces and domestic appliances. It would also have
meant the choice of an industrial or residential area reasonably large
enough to convert into a smoke control area in which only smokeless
fuels could be burnt, or appliances capable of smokeless operation
could be used. Information was given on the attitude of neighbouring
authorities ; and the Council confirmed a recommendation that at
the present time action to establish a smoke control area was not justified
and that the time was premature to consider the question of making
a bye-law to ensure that suitable appliances were installed in new
buildings. The need for the bye-law does seem to depend on whether
or not a smoke control area is likely in the borough.
Services must depend a great deal on adequacy of staff. It is
important to remember that there are national staff shortages in all
branches of public health among doctors, nurses and technical staff.
In our own borough, the position is now more satisfactory.
It is pleasing to see that the local hospitals situated in Beckenham,
and under the management of another authority, are making such
progress with new building and new functions—a new out-patient
department in one, and increased use as a Children's hospital in
another.
The many ways in which one class of patient may need social
help outside the hospital is shown in the comprehensive report of the
Secretary of the District Tuberculosis Care Committee; and further
liaison between hospital and district welfare services is shown in the
reports dealing with the welfare of old persons.
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