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(iii)
Another step forward would be to give urgent consideration
to the improvement of older properties which are
structurally sound, and provide modern amenities such as baths,
hot water supplies and internal W,Cs, These items are no
longer to be looked upon as luxuries, but are required, and
should be provided, as present day essentials.
Clean Air Act.
During the year consideration was given to implementing
the Clean Air Act in stages until the whole town could become
a "smokeless" area.
Householders require encouragement to use smokeless fuels
for all purpose and to fireplaces adapted fop buring
Efforts to encourage the use of such fuels will
successful if not hampered by the inadequate supplies of suitsable
fuel to meet normal increasing demand. Many householders
Who are prepared to utilise smokeless fuels have been unable
to obtain such supplies during the winter months.
Although we are subject to occasional fogs by the river
and across the Ham area to Richmond Park, we have been
fortunate that the final months of 1959 were in the main free
of fog These areas are also "smog" Zones and it is "smog"
which causes a great deal of chest trouble in the winter and
"carries off" so many old people. Such areas should be made
into smokeless zones to eliminate "smog" and reduce illness
and deaths. She saving in cleaning also obtained in smokeless
zones will compensate for the time. trouble, and cost of work
undertaken to effect them.
"Problem" Families and Social Reclamation.
A difficult part of the work of a Medical Officer of
Health is the rehabilitation of so-called problem families.
The causes of such family failures are many and varied and it
is usually due to either one, or tooth parents of such families
"being unstable, sub-normal in intelligence, and incapable of
being educated,, The house is often squalid and dirty; the
household management feckless and improvident.
In the curative field many remedial measures are undertaken,
as follows:-
1. Rehousing.,
2. Removal of "Problem" families to hostels
provided for the purpose.
3. Accommodation of mother and in some cases her
children in special Recuperative Centres for
rehabilitation and education.
4. Temporary or permanent removal of children
into Local Authority care.
A large contributing factor to the degeneration of
domestic conditions is inadequate or unsuitable housing. In
some cases where rehousing has taken place it is interesting
to find that the more adequate accommodation has succeeded
in giving the mother a new confidence and self-respect.