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

Woolwich 1952

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Woolwich]

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SANITARY ADMINISTRATION
Sanitary Inspection of the Area.
During the year the Sanitary Inspectors carried out 31,932 inspections, including
re-inspections. The nature of these inspections is shown in Table No. 9. As a
result of these inspections 1,437 intimation notices and 827 statutory notices were
served.
Complaints.
There was a decrease in the number of complaints received during the year—
1,878 compared with 2,676 in 1951. The necessary action was taken where complaints
were made or nuisances discovered.

Table: Table No. 9. Inspections.

Table No. 9. Inspections.

Complaints investigated1,878Water sampling and testing148
Complaints reinspected Outworkers' premises6,404Rodent Control2,669
182Smoke Observations53
Houses re overcrowding347Theatres and cinemas11
New houses re water suply444Urinals accessible to public65
Houses re infectious disease691Women's lavatories126
Houses re smallpox contacts8Rag and bone dealers9
Houses re vermin960Houses re choked drains149
Woolwich Borough Council housing applicants re vermin1,314Houses, visits with owners, builders, etc.257
Houses re scabies27Houses re slum clearance and redevelopment172
Houses re Housing Acts303
House-to-house inspections384Drainage inspections1,287
Houses re Rent Restriction Acts4Houses re accommodation for immigrants3
Aged and Infirm persons2,334
Common Lodging Houses26Houses re verminous premises138
Tents and Vans42Rag Flock premises19
Factories mechanically powered206Pet Animals premises29
Factories non-mechanically powered48Houses re requests for permitted numbers31
Work places30Offensive trades4
Shops re Shops Act490Visits re insect and other pests70
Food premises4,070Houses re disinfection or destruction of articles72
Itinerant vendors80
Complaints re food20Marshes, ditches, pools, watercourses, static water tanks, etc.50
Shops re Pharmacy and Poisons27
National Assistance Act re burialStables14
of dead persons8Miscellaneous visits1,588
Non-effectual visits4,642

Table: Table No. 10. Nuisances Abated.

Table No. 10. Nuisances Abated.

Dirty conditions remedied1,024Areas and yards paved or repaired67
Roofs repaired725
Gutters, rainwater pipes, etc., reDrains cleansed296
paired or renewed459Drains repaired261
Damp walls and other damp conDrains reconstructed16
ditions remedied2,033Combined drains repaired or reconstructed8
Fireplaces, hearths, etc., repaired
or renewed286Water closets cleansed and repaired506
Floors, skirtings and other wood
work repaired or renewed424Water closet pans and traps fixed173
Windows repaired or renewed756Water supply defects remedied145
Ceilings repaired or renewed443Dustbins provided128
Walls repaired or renewed1,715Foul accumulations remedied44
Other dilapidations remedied184Sites cleared of refuse3
Lighting and ventilation defects remedied29Nuisances from animals abated10