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47
Sanitary Section and Housing
Mr. J. E. Austin, M.B.E., Chief Sanitary Inspector, has
compiled this section of the Report relating to sanitary circumstances
and housing, and statistics in regard to food inspection.
EMERGENCY WORK.
The year proved one of the most exceptional of the war years,
opening with a gradual resumption of routine duties but ending with
emergency duties dominant.
In the early months there was much preparation and consultation
in connection with the invasion measures, matters of camp hygiene
and water supply. The latter half of the year witnessed further heavy
damage to housing and environmental services which demanded the
continuous attention of the inspectorate.
Completion of repairs sustained in the earlier blitzes had almost
been effected when from June onwards further extensive damage
occurred and housing conditions seriously deteriorated.
Brief details of the emergency work of the sanitary section are
subjoined and precede the report on routine duties of the inspectors.
First Aid Repairs.
The repair of war damaged housing has been supervised throughout
the war by the sanitary inspectors, their intimate knowledge of
local housing and sanitary circumstances being invaluable. The
organisation was severely tested and night and day it became the rule
to go into action within half an hour of the civil defence services. A
scheme of mobilisation was designed to provide immediate attendance
of 2,500 operatives at incidents to ensure shelter for the people.
It is easy, and perhaps natural, to forget the work of blitz days
when thoughts and complaints turn more to decorative treatment of
houses, but it should not go unrecorded that the Housing Repair
Service contributed in no small measure to the maintenance of public
health, public morale and public service (it was notable the number
of war-workers who returned to their work happy in the knowledge
that their damaged houses were at least receiving early ' 'field
dressing'').
Since 1939 and until 31st December, 1944, immediate "field
dressing" works had been carried out to 111,902 houses in the