London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Willesden 1952
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Willesden]
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21
CENSUS, 1951
One Per Cent. Sample
Private Households, Densities of Occupation and Household Arrangements
(Percentages in brackets)
| Households | Households without exclusive use of | Persons per room | Percentage of persons living more than 2 per room | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | In shared dwellings | Water. closet | Fixed bath | Both stove and sink | 1951 | 1931 | 1951 | 1931 | |
| England and Wales | 130435 | 19681 | 27974 | 58174 | 17927 | 0.73 | 0.83 | 2.16 | 6.94 |
| (15 08) | (21.44) | (44.61) | (13.65) | ||||||
| Greater London | 26479 | 9652 | 6480 | 12068 | 3386 | 0.77 | 0.89 | 1.71 | 9.46 |
| (36.45) | (24.47) | (45.57) | (12.78) | ||||||
| County of London | 11144 | 5759 | 3913 | 6908 | 1855 | 0.83 | 0.98 | 2.20 | 13.13 |
| (51.67) | (35.11) | (61.98) | (16.64) | ||||||
| County of Middlesex | 7017 | 2078 | 1280 | 2412 | 739 | 0.74 | 0.80 | 1.58 | 4.65 |
| (29.61) | (18.24) | (34.37) | (10.53) | ||||||
| Willesden | 566 | 344 | 138 | 337 | 66 | 0.85 | 0.92 | 5.76 | 8.95 |
| (60.88) | (22.61) | (59.54) | (11.64) | ||||||
Gardens
Willesden is poorly equipped with public open spaces, 242 acres compared with an estimated need
of 1,313 acres; yet one in four families have no garden at all, and a large number have to share a garden.
Swimming Baths
| Swimming Bath | Samples taken | Satisfactory |
|---|---|---|
| Granville Road | 56 | 56 |
| Gladstone Park | 22 | 22 |
| King Edward's Park | 10 | 10 |
Conditions in Gladstone Park Baths are better since the improvements made last year.
SANITARY SECTION
Staff
The authorised establishment of sanitary inspectors is one Chief Sanitary Inspector, one Deputy
Chief Sanitary Inspector, 17 district Sanitary Inspectors and 5 Pupil Sanitary Inspectors.
Three sanitary inspectors resigned in 1952, and two qualified pupil sanitary inspectors and one outside
sanitary inspector were appointed in their stead; only 3 pupil sanitary inspectors were on the staff in 1952.
The Rodent Officer and four operatives were employed in the destruction of rats and mice on bomb
sites and waste.lands, and in dwelling houses, factories and other industrial buildings. Two labourers were
employed on vermin disinfestation, drain.testing, and general duties.
Sanitary Inspection of the Area
The work of the Housing (Standards of Fitness) Sub.committee was transferred to the Public
Health Committee in May, 1952.
The main problem facing the Council was to try and preserve property which, if neglected, would
deteriorate into slums and possibly require demolition. Many tenants inform the Public Health Department
only when the defects are advanced and costly to remedy. The Council therefore decided to carry out a
house.to.house inspection under section 5 of the Housing Act, 1936, in selected areas of the Borough to
find the defects in the early stages before they deteriorated or caused extensive damage and when they cost
much less to repair. For instance, to remedy promptly defective roofs or gutter spouts is much cheaper
than allowing them to progress and cause dampness to walls and rooms.