London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

View report page

Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London

Woolwich 1955

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Woolwich]

This page requires JavaScript

Text

Copy text to clipboard

SANITARY ADMINISTRATION
Sanitary Inspection of the Area.
During 1955 the Sanitary Inspectors carried out 38,431 inspections, including
re-inspections, being over 700 more than in the previous year, and nearly 8,000
more than in 1953. The nature of these inspections is shown in Table No. 8. As
a result 1,406 intimation notices and 575 statutory notices were served.
Complaints.
There was again an increase in the number of complaints received during the
year—3,460 compared with 3,048 in 1954, and 2,026 in 1953.
Any necessary action was taken where complaints were made or nuisances
discovered.

Table: Table No. 8. Inspections.

Table No. 8. Inspections.

Complaints investigated1,996Rodent control2,586
Complaints reinspections7,398Smoke Observations133
Outworkers' premises409Atmospheric Pollution337
Houses re overcrowding201Theatres and cinemas22
New houses re water supply ..617Men's lavatories189
Houses re infectious disease929Women's lavatories58
Houses re smallpox contacts ..8Rag and bone dealers1
Houses re vermin243Houses re choked drains160
Woolwich Borough Council-housing applicants re vermin1,132Drainage inspections1,081
Houses, visits with owners, builders, etc.458
Houses re scabies12
Houses re Housing Act651Houses re slum clearance and redevelopment574
Housing' Act — Improvement Grants225
Houses re verminous persons..63
House-to-House inspections ..2,274Rag Flock premises10
Houses re Certificates of Disrepair127Pet Animals premises76
Houses re requests for permitted numbers111
Aged and Infirm persons3,475
Home Bathing22Offensive tradesDaily
Common Lodging Houses25Visits re insect and other pests..131
Tents and Vans131Houses re disinfection or destruction of articles47
Factories mechanically powered376
Factories non - mechanically powered86Marshes, ditches, pools, water
courses, static water tanks, etc.188
Work places48Stables46
Shops Act inspections1,103Exhumations23
Food Premises3,427Factories re trade effluent sampling5
Itinerant vendors24
Complaints re food41Accommodation for immigrants3
Shops re Pharmacy and Poisons148Heating appliances (fireguards)31
National Assistance Act re burial of deceased persons2Hairdressers and Barbers83
Miscellaneous visits1,715
Water sampling and testing97Non-effectual visits5,073

Table: Table No. 9. Nuisances Abated.

Table No. 9. Nuisances Abated.

Dirty conditions remedied1,125Windows repaired or renewed..749
Roofs repaired623Ceilings repaired or renewed ..451
Gutters, rainwater pipes, etc. repaired or renewed408Walls repaired or renewed1,241
Lighting and ventilation defects remedied723
Damp walls and other damp conditions remedied2,077
Areas and yards paved or repaired112
Fireplaces, hearths, flues, etc. repaired or renewed224Sinks, S.W. pipes, etc., repaired or renewed92
Floors, skirting and other woodwork296Drains cleansed255
Drains repaired or reconstructed249