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The provisions of paragraph 6 of Part II of the Second Schedule to the Milk (Special Designation)
Regulations, 1960, restricted the bottling of milk to the three premises in the borough where the milk is
pasteurised. These Regulations transferred the issue of dealers' licences from the Borough Council to the food
and drugs authority for the area, the Middlesex County Council.
105 persons are registered by the Council to trade as distributors and three premises are registered
as dairies. Twenty-eight inspections were made of the three dairies; the two defects found were quickly
remedied.
186 samples of milk were submitted for bacteriological examination (see Table 9).
Three dirty milk bottles were reported by the public and three by other local authorities. The Council
issued official cautions in respect of four and referred two to the local authority in whose district the milk was
bottled.
FACTORY INSPECTION
There was a decrease of eight in the total number of factories in the borough compared with the
previous year (Table 40).
The Council supervise sanitary conveniences in all factories and, in addition, cleanliness, overcrowding,
temperature, ventilation and drainage of floors in non-power factories. Details of inspections and notices
served, defects found and remedied, are given in Tables 40 and 41. One firm was prosecuted for contravening
section 7 of the Factories Act, 1961, and Regulations 5 and 6 of the Sanitary Accommodation Regulations,
1938. They were granted an absolute discharge and the Council were awarded £3 3s. Od. costs.
Basement bakehouses
The local authority is responsible for the supervision of basement bakehouses under the Factories
Act, 1961. Basement bakehouse is defined as a bakehouse any baking room of which is so situated that the
surface of the floor is more than three feet below the surface of the footway of the adjoining street or of the
ground adjoining or nearest to the room. A baking room is defined as any room used for baking or for the
process incidental thereto. Any basement bakehouse which is not used for twelve months cannot be used again.
Certificates of suitability are issued to the occupiers of basement bakehouses and have to be reconsidered
by the Council every five years. Provided the bakehouse is still suitable as regards construction,
height, light, ventilation and any hygienic respect, the certificate must be renewed. In 1958 six certificates were
renewed but one bakehouse has now been demolished and another is no longer used.
Outworkers and homeworkers
In February and August of each year factory owners send to the local authority lists of names and
addresses of all persons who have worked at home for them during the previous six months on certain jobs.
180 were employed during the year, the largest number, 106, altering and making clothing. Public Health
Inspectors inspect these workers' homes, which were all found to be satisfactory (Table 42).
Noise nuisance
The Borough Council deals with noise nuisances under the Noise Abatement Act, 1960, which repealed
the noise nuisance sections of the Middlesex County Council Act, 1944. It provides that noise and vibration
which are nuisances are offences under the Act. It is no longer necessary for a doctor to have to decide whether
there is danger or injury to health.
Public Health Inspectors have carried out observations at all times of the day and night to determine
whether complaints of noise nuisance were justified or not. 53 complaints were received during the year, of
which 29 did not constitute a nuisance within the meaning of the Act. 13 were repeated complaints and 11
were found to be nuisances. These were the subject of informal action and after consultation with the firms
concerned the nuisances were abated.
The noises objected to by complainants were wide and varied, and included those from boiler chimneys,
lorry engines, factory processes, locomotive shunting, truck unloading, power saws, coin-operated laundry,
steam crane, power sewing machines in domestic dwellings, inconsiderate neighbours and loudspeakers.
CARE OF THE AGED
The proportion of old people in the community is increasing and it becomes more urgent and necessary
for the medical and welfare services to be extended to care adequately for them.
The majority of old people are living alone, but they can manage to look after themselves in spite of
deficiencies in money, suitable living accommodation and general amenities. Some require help to keep them
comfortable and happy in their own homes while a small minority cannot be adequately cared for except in
a hospital or old people's home. The local health authority provides home nurses, home helps and health
visitors who investigate the needs of old people and arrange for the necessary services to be given.
Old People's Clinic
An experimental old people's clinic was opened at Pound Lane Clinic in February, 1961. It was
transferred to Neasden Clinic in June, 1961, and held at the same time as a chiropody clinic. The clinic was
established to give advice to old people on problems of physical and mental health. Thirty-nine sessions were
held during the year and 57 old people were seen, making 128 attendances. Thirty-one cases were referred
by health visitors, nine by the Old People's Welfare Organiser, two by general practitioners, two by relatives,
and 13 attended of their own accord. Old people who failed to keep an appointment were visited to see if
there had been any deterioration in their condition.