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During the year a review of old people's welfare services followed
the formation of a new voluntary committee and the voluntary
Emergency Call Scheme (Beckenham) to help handicapped persons
was inaugurated with the help of the Health Department.
The report on the work of the public health inspectors refers in
greater detail to the survey of 2,282 houses in No. 1 Smoke Control
area, which was completed in November, and to the statutory supervision
of industrial smoke under the provision of the Clean Air Act.
In addition a survey of 376 older tenanted houses was carried out.
The report shows the wide range of duties of the public health inspector
in providing clean and safe food, satisfactory housing and prevention
of infection or infestation. It includes the number of contraventions
remedied under the Shops Act and the nuisances remedied under the
Factories Act.
The fluoride content of the water supply of the borough has been
investigated and figures show that at best it is only one quarter of the
optimum. It is a mixture of water from four different sources, of which
one is the River Thames. The water is moderately hard and is not
plumbosolvent. At the end of this report a short review of the
relationship of hard water to health has been included.
I wish to express my thanks to the Chairman and Members of the
Health Committee for their continued confidence ; to my colleagues
in general medical practice and the hospital service for their helpful
co-operation ; to Dr. Elliott and members of the County Health
Service and lastly to my own staff for the tact, efficiency and friendliness
with which they carry out their duties.
L. R. L. Edwards,
Medical Officer of Health
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