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 1951
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]
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22
C—SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE AREA
Water.—The authority responsible is the Metropolitan Water
Board. Routine tests are carried out by the Board, and the usual
practice was continued of notifying the Board of all actual or
suspected cases of enteric fever. The Board then arranged special
tests at the addresses concerned. All were negative in 1951.
All dwelling houses in the area are supplied direct with water.
In accordance with Circular 42/51, the following information
is also given:—
(i) The water supply of the area and its several parts has
been satisfactory (a) in quality, (b) in quantity.
(ii) A total of two bacteriological examinations was carried
out with satisfactory results.
(iii) As far as is known, there is no plumbo-solvent action in
the water supplied to the Borough.
(iv) No action was necessary in respect of contamination.
(v) There are no houses supplied by stand-pipes.
Sanitary Inspection of the Area
The Inspectorate was, owing to sickness, one below complement
for 19 weeks.
Mr. F. W. Kemp, Chief Sanitary Inspector, reports as follows:—
| No. of inspections made. | No. of nuisances detected. | No. of complaints received. | No. of Intimation Notices | No. of Statutory Notices. | Total Visits. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Served. | Complied with. | Served. | Complied with. | ||||
| 14,375 | 6,989 | 3,157 | 1,985 | 1,976* | 266 | 212* | 21,352 |
* Includes notices outstanding from previous year.
Of the 1,985 intimation notices served, 175 were in respect
of business premises and the remainder (1,810) related to defects
in private houses. Of the latter figure, 1,544 were complied with
without resort to statutory procedure.
It was found necessary to institute legal proceedings against
Owners for non-compliance with 11 Abatement Notices served
under Section 93 of the Public Health Act, 1936. Orders were
made by the Justices in four cases—costs ranging from £1 0s. 0d.
to £1 3s. 0d.—and in six cases the summonses were withdrawn
on payment of costs, the work having been completed before
the date of Hearing. One case was adjourned sine die.