View report page

INTRODUCTION
Staff difficulties in the Environmental Health Section limited the
progress which was possible during the year. It had been hoped to commence a
survey of houses with a view to ascertaining the need for compulsory improvement
and to re-commence sewer baiting for the destruction of rats. Both these
projects had to be postponed because of unfilled staff vacancies and sickness.
It is with deep regret that reference must be made to the sudden deaths of
Miss Lucas and Mr. Snowsill. Miss Lucas had served the former Borough of Sutton
and Cheam for twenty-one years as Secretary to the Chief Public Health Inspector
and was respected and valued by her former employers. Mr. Snowsill had been
with the Authority as rodent operative for a comparatively short time but by his
zeal and enthusiasm had made an extremely good impression.
Despite difficulties, however, some progress has been made. In most
fields of responsibility effort has been maintained and in others speeding up has
been effected or greater productivity achieved. Two examples of this are in the
establishment of Smoke Control Areas and the investigation, in co-operation with
other London Boroughs, of samples of specified foods for pesticidal residues.
These are referred to more fully in the body of the report. "Speeding up' is
perhaps the wrong term to use in relation to the Smoke Control programme 5 but the
early return to two areas a year after the reduction to one on the grounds of
economy, was a pleasing and undoubtedly correct decision. It has been truly said
that "we cannot afford not to have clean air".
Slum Clearance was notable only for the early signs of interest by
Preservation Societies and individuals in older houses considered worthy of
preservation, an interest which was undoubtedly stimulated by the Civic Amenities
Act and the powers contained therein to enable local authorities to preserve
buildings of special architectural value. The interest in preserving houses which
were represented as unfit twelve years ago and made the subject of redevelopment
proposals is more difficult to understand. It is certain that they could have been
preserved more economically at that time.
A subject to which reference has not previously been made is that of
keeping up to date with technological developments and legislation. During the
year, Inspectors attended courses of instruction in Noise Control, Poultry
Inspection, Bacteriology, and revision courses in Meat Inspection. New
legislation included three statutes, fifteen statutory instruments, twenty-two
circulars and numerous official reports, leaflets and memoranda, all of which they
were required to study and apply in the field. The time-consuming nature of this
task and its effect on inspections is generally overlooked.
In the field of consumer protection, with particular reference to food,
the normal programmes of sampling for bacteriological and chemical examination
have been maintained and the inspections of food premises increased by about twenty
per cent over the previous year. Every effort is made during inspections of such
premises to educate food handlers in hygienic methods by the detection of faulty
practices and by drawing immediate attention to them. This approach is more
valuable than the alternative of arranged classes, which is generally less
successful because of limited attendances and, more particularly;, the difficulty
of achieving the level of instruction likely t© make an impact.
As in previous years, details of the work of the Public Health Inspectors
is set out in the following pages.
- 107