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3.
but the Council's Holiday Horns has been strained to its utmost for a large
part of the year, thanks being due very largely to King Edward's Hospital
Fund who have been the means of not only helping financially but also of
filling in the gaps in the "off" season (with the support of County and County
Borough authorities throughout England).
The link between the social services and our remaining hospitals has been
as strong as ever, and we could not wish for more co-operation in this
direotion. The Royal Chest Hospital finally closed its doors in City Road
during the year, and this can readily be understood when one considers the
handicaps sustained as a result of considerable war damage. However, our local
Chest Clinic in its newquarters is doing such yeoman service that we are
confident that while it has even its present amenities it will be able to
maintain the improvements already manifested, especially if in future years
fewer T.B. patients are imported from other areas than are exported (the
reverse applies at the moment).
The staff of Sanitary Inspectors has been somewhat depleted during 1954,
but early 1955 has shown an even greater drift away from London. As a result
of this, the new and extensive work entailed by the Housing Repairs and Rents
Act, 1954 was shouldered by our hardworking Chief and Deputy Chief Sanitary
Inspectors who successfully dealt with 101 applications for certificates of
disrepair by the end of the year - none of these being considered spurious.
From the viewpoint of the landlords and tenants concerned, this concentration
of the work has ensured a uniformity and a specialist attack which makes
certain of utter fairness to all (p.26). This relief for the remaining
distriot inspectors meant that they were able to keep an even closer watch on
food premises and factories, but this present strain must eventually mean a
reduction in efficiency in one way or another, unless we can keep fully
staffed.
The work of slum clearance continues (see p. 36) and further widespread
projects have now been almost completely agreed as between the London County
Counoil and this Council.
The campaigns against rodents and flies have again been very successful,
and the free handwashing facilities at public conveniences become more
popular.
Our deputy chief sanitary inspector, Mr.F.C.Shaw retired (after more than
40 years in Local Government Service) amid the good wishes and thanks of all
concerned, and we have welcomed his hardworking suocessor, Mr. T.H.Marshall.
I am very grateful to the whole staff for their constant attention to duty, and
particularly to Mr.D.Grant, our indefatigable chief sanitary inspector and
assistant administrative officer.
Lastly, I would like to thank the Council, and particularly the Chairman
and members of the Health and Welfare Committees, as well as my colleagues in
other departments, for their support during 1954, and to express the hope that
we may make even more progress towards "more light, more power" in the coming
years.
Yours faithfully,
B. BROAUBENT
Medical Officer of Health.