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SECTION IV
GENERAL ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
The Associate Medical Officer of Health, Dr. James Gorman,
M.B., Ch.B., D.P.H., F.R.S.H., and the Chief Public Health
Inspector, Mr. M. F. G. Randall, M.A.P.H.I., M.R.S.H., report as
follows:—
The impact of the new Authority upon environmental health
was cushioned by the fact that the bulk of the work involved was
already being carried out by both Romford and Hornchurch
although substantial new responsibilities were added. Under the
somewhat difficult conditions which prevailed in the settling down
period of the new Authority the general standard of the environmental
health services of the district was well maintained during
the whole of 1965. A genuine effort was made by the staff to adopt
the better features of each Local Authority's administration and
this should show beneficial results in due course.
The progress by the inclusion of a further 7,000 houses within
Smoke Control Areas was noteworthy. In pursuing the policy of
making the Borough smoke free as quickly as possible, the pollution
from the ever-increasing number of cars must not be forgotten.
At present very little can be done by Local Authorities to deal
with this problem and all that can be hoped for is that the results
of international scientific research will come to fruition and be put
into effect very soon. In the meantime, we are concentrating on
diminishing drastically the atmospheric pollution which is preventable
here and now.
It is gratifying to see that the provision for the safety, health
and welfare of those employed in shops and offices is improving
the existing conditions which for many years have been of a comparatively
low order. In spite of the shortage of staff, approximately
28,000 visits or inspections have been made and from this report
can be seen the wide scope of all the activities involved.
At the end of the year we were five Public Health Inspectors
short which meant a reallocation of duties so that essential work—
infectious disease enquiries, complaints, meat inspection and smoke
control adaptations—was given priority. Routine inspection of
houses, factories and food shops was necessarily limited to some
extent because of this shortage. The Council has given approval
to the appointment of a second Authorised Meat Inspector who
will make a considerable contribution to the work of the section
as, apart from being able to give the whole of his time to meat
inspection, he will to a greater extent release a Public Health Inspector
for other work.
Three Student Public Health Inspectors were receiving training
at the end of the year and the appointment of a fourth student is
imminent.
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