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

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East Ham 1948

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for East Ham]

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66
SANITARY SECTION.
This section of the report relating to sanitary circumstances
and housing, and statistics as to food inspection has been compiled
by Mr. R. A. Baskett. B.E.M., M.S.I.A., Chief Sanitary
Inspector.
As compared with some neighbouring authorities the establishment
of the Sanitary Section was well maintained throughout the
year. There was but one resignation and one new appointment of
District Sanitary Inspector. It has in consequence been possible
to resume much more of the Department's routine work and to
devote more attention to re-inspections and food premises. It is,
however, to be regretted that notwithstanding the greater attention
given to follow-up work, results are somewhat disappointing.
There would appear to be three main causes for this absence of
marked progress viz.:—(1) Continued difficulties in obtaining both
labour and certain materials for house repairs ; (2) Protracted
negotiations by owners with the War Damage Commission as to
responsibility for payment of repair costs, and (3) Reluctance of
some owners to carry out repairs at present costs. It has in
consequence been necessary to resort to legal proceedings more
frequently to effect compliance with sanitary notices.
During the year the number of inspections of all classes
totalled 33,201 including 8,034 under the Public Health Act,
17,518 re-inspections and 1,808 under the Housing Act, 1936, as
compared with 29,117, 9,202, 12,945 and 2,377 respectively last
year. The number of sanitary notices complied with was 5,229.
The continued co-operation of the Council's Housing Department
in the issue of building licences has facilitated the work of
the Sanitary Inspectors.
The personnel of the Sanitary Section comprised one Assistant
Inspector, one Shops Inspector, six District Inspectors, a Deputy
and a Chief Sanitary Inspector. Together with one disinfector,
one lorry driver, one mortuary attendant, one rodent operator,
one drain cleaner, one clerk and two typists.
Lectures and talks to local organisations on sanitary administration
have been given during the year and the training of selected
ex-service men as Sanitary Inspectors has been continued.