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
Walthamstow 1942
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]
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A new Cleansing Station has been erected during the past year
and is completely equipped for treating contaminated personnel.
It is capable of passing 90 persons per hour. Several tests
have been carried out, and it has proved very efficient.
GENERAL.
The Department is still responsible for the clearance of bombed
sites and debris from roads. During the past year this work has
proceeded in accordance with recent Government circulars. All
classes of building materials which could be salvaged for re-use
have been recovered, and have been used for carrying out repairs
to bomb damaged properties, building of shelters, blast walls,
N.F.S. Sub-stations, static water tanks, eto.
All timber has now been transferred to the Timber Control and
the majority sent to reconditioning plants, only a very small
auantitv boine retained for urgent first aid repairs.
SANITARY INSPECTION OF THE AREA.
Mr.M.E.Duncan, Chief Sanitary Inspector, reports as follows:-
| No. of inspections made. | No. of nuisances detected. | No. of complaints received. | No. of Informal Served | Notices Complied with | No. of Statutory Served | Notioes Complied with | Total Visits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8,512 | 3,492 | 2,239 | 1,468 | 1,213 | 118 | 97 | 15,352 |
During the year under review the inspectoral staff has been
the equivalent of two below full strength. The Chief Sanitary
Inspector was granted sick leave in October and was unable to
return to duties for the remainder of the year. Mr.F. W.Kemp
was appointed as Acting Chief Inspector.
The number of complaints received was 2,239, a marked increase
as compared with 1,382 in the previous year and 1,271 in 1940.
This increase is no doubt due to the great difficulty experienced
by owners and agents in procuring the necessary skilled labour
to carry out ordinary house repairs and maintenance, and also to
the greatly increased cost.
No House to House Inspections could be carried out.
The number of houses found with defects was 1,679, and written
notices were served in respect of 1,468 premises. The number of
notices complied with during the year was 1,213 informal and
97 statutory.
The nature and variety of the work carried out during 1942 is
shown in the following tables:-
Drains tested, 433; Drains reconstructed or repaired, 375;
Drains, obstructions removed, 330; Drains, means of access
provided, 27; Drains, ventilation provided or improved, 38;
Drains, ventilation repaired, 71; Soil pipes repaired, 15;
Soil pipes new, provided, 40; Rain water pipes renewed, 104;
Rain water pipes disconnected from drains, 9; Roofs repaired or
renewed, 395; Gutterings repaired or renewed, 208; W.C.pans or
traps provided, 226; Gully traps provided, 63; W.C.Flush cisterns
provided, 44; W.C. Flush cisterns repaired, 181, W.C.floors concreted,
35; W.C.'s repaired and cleansed, 167; W.C.'s light and
ventilation improved, 11; Waste pipes renewed or trapped, 96;
Waste pipes repaired, 67; New sinks provided, 35; Water supply
reinstated, 6; Water supply taken off main, 1; Cisterns cleansed
and covered, 14; Conveniences cleansed or repaired, 9; Sculleries
paved, 27; Yards and forecourts paved and repaired, 86; Dirty
houses cleansed, 1; Dirty rooms cleansed, 412; Floors repaired,
136; Ventilations under floors provided, 66; New damp-proof
courses provided, 23; Sites concreted, 5; Offensive accumulations
removed, 40; Animals improperly kept, removed, 2; Manure receptacles
provided,-; Stables cleansed, paved and drained, 37;
Manholes repaired or re-sealed, 93; Other cases of dampness remedied,
169; Miscellaneous repairs, 1006.
8.