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 1953
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Woolwich]
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Apart from the erection of houses and flats by the County Council, at the end
of the year schemes were in hand for the erection of a further 212 dwellings by the
Borough Council.
Number of applications on Register at 1st January, 1953 5,115
Number of applications received during year 1,292
6,407
Number of applicants rehoused during year
(1) By Borough Council 249
(2) By nomination to L.C.C. 70
(3) Direct by L.C.C. 67
386
6,021
Number of applications cancelled or withdrawn (applicants
moved, found own accommodation, etc.) 1,379
Number of applicants on "live" Register at 31st December,
1953 4,642
Properties under the Council's control:—
| 1952. | 1953. | |
|---|---|---|
| At 31st December, tenancies totalled:— | ||
| In pre-war houses | 4,317 | 4,317 |
| In rebuilt houses | 147 | 147 |
| In new post-war houses | 1,834 | 2,050 |
| In temporary dwellings | 986 | 986 |
| In requisitioned properties | 1,014 | 954 |
| In miscellaneous properties | 217 | 369 |
| 8,515 | 8,823 |
The weekly rent roll at the end of 1953 was £10,893 10s. 5d., compared with
£8,472 13s. 9d. at the end of 1952.
I am indebted to the Director of Housing for the above information with reference
to the Borough Council's housing progress during 1953.
HEALTH EDUCATION
The Department's Health Education Unit was again very popular with local
organisations during 1953, and the demand for programmes was as heavy as in the
previous year. With regard to the film programmes, a slight falling off in the number
of visits to mixed adult audiences was balanced by an increase in the number of programmes
given to women's meetings and youth organisations.
A total of 81 film shows and 15 informal talks was presented to audiences
numbering 4,250 persons. In addition, the Council's film unit was in attendance
on 26 occasions at meetings of local Civil Defence volunteers, and five film sessions
were included in the Council's Post-Entry Training scheme for junior entrants into
the Local Government Service.
Films dealing with health subjects which are being used in these programmes
are mainly obtained on hire from the Central Film Library. Usually each programme
includes a film of general interest, and a large proportion of the general
interest films are loaned without cost to the Council by the Gas Council, the Metropolitan
Water Board and from one of the large firms of milk distributors. I am
indebted to these bodies for their valuable help in making these films available for
use.
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