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ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
A CHANGE OF DESIGNATION
By Mr. H. D. Smith, Deputy Chief Public Health Inspector
In August, 1956, the Royal Assent was given to the Sanitary Inspectors'
(Change of Designation) Act, 1956, and the title of Sanitary Inspector in England
and Wales was changed to Public Health Inspector. This was the result of a
Private Member's Bill introduced in Parliament by Sir Wavel Wakefield. It was
surprising what great interest was aroused during the various stages of the Bill in
both the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
The origin of this office may be traced back to the Public Health Act, 1848.
This was an adoptive Act, and because in those days authorities were inclined to
think more of their purses than their health, very few inspectors were appointed.
The Public Health Act, 1872, made it an obligation upon authorities to
appoint inspectors, but even so it is recorded that in one rural area seventeen
authorities engaged one part-time inspector between them. It was realised that
this state of affairs could not go on indefinitely. In time, especially as the work
became more involved, examination boards were set up and it became the duty of
local authorities to appoint an adequate staff of properly qualified inspectors.
Although many people considered the change of designation unnecessary, it was
generally felt that in these days the title of sanitary inspector did not truly reflect the
nature of the work. The word "sanitary" has now a restricted meaning; has lost its
former all-embracing connotation of "health"; it is generally applied to matters
connected with drainage work, and yet the present-day inspector spends only about
five per cent. of his time on such matters. He is much more occupied on the wider
aspects of public health, such as inspecting meat and other foods, sampling food and
water, supervising hygiene in food shops, restaurants, cafes and food factories;
dealing with unfit houses; inspecting boiler plant and furnaces for the Clean Air
Act; the investigation of food poisoning and other notifiable diseases, all these,
together with other established duties, give some idea of the day-to-day work of the
modern public health inspector.
Also the nature of the work has changed because many conditions existing in
the last century do not exist today. Furthermore the need for good standards of
hygiene and health is now accepted by most people and although there are still some
averse to progress, most are prepared to co-operate. It is now possible for much to
be achieved by advice and explanation rather than by enforcement and prosecution.
This is a great help to the public health inspector as even in these days his task
can be far from easy. The complexities of the job are numerous enough without
having to battle with personalities. Co-operation, not only from his various
colleagues, but from all interested in the promotion of good health is as essential
today as ever. In this way progress can be more rapid, and lasting.
PEST DESTRUCTION
The service provided by the Health Department enables residents in the
Borough to obtain advice as to the identification and method of eradication of a
wide variety of insect pests. The British Museum (Natural History Section)
are always willing to assist in the identification of unusual specimens, and I am
most grateful to them for their assistance.
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