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
West Ham 1937
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for West Ham]
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| Visits to shops (Shops Act, 1934) | 40 |
| ,, canal boats | — |
| Visits re-overcrowding provisions of Housing Acts | 72 |
| Drainage inspections | 5,999 |
| House to house inspections under Public Health or Housing Acts | 2,462 |
| Visits under Rats and Mice Destruction Act | 198 |
| ,, ,, Rent Restriction, etc., Acts | 34 |
| ,, ,, bye-laws—tents, vans, sheds | 97 |
| ,, to private houses to investigate complaints | 5,851 |
| Houses inspected under the Housing Act 1936, reclosing and demolition orders or reconconstructions or re-schedules of evidence . | 590 |
| Smoke observations | 122 |
| Visits to factories re smoke | 93 |
| ,, factories re Steam Whistles Act 1872 | - |
| ,, places of public amusement, theatres, music halls, cinemas, etc., Ministry of Health circular 120, 1920 | 307 |
| ,, licensed premises | 183 |
| Other visits | 859 |
| Re-inspections | 33,012 |
| Total visits | 61,810 |
Apart from general repairs the most important items dealt
with from the numerical point of view were cleansing of walls
and ceilings, roofs, gutters, various defects to water-closets, and
dampness. During the year the total number of notices served
was 6,923, and the number complied with was 5,962.
Houses let in lodgings. It is becoming increasingly common
for large houses in better class districts to be let off in separate
tenements, no further provision being made for the additional
families. Thus in many instances there is a deficiency of suitable
and sufficient washing and cooking facilities and of sanitary
accommodation. New overcrowding in these houses is being
prevented by prosecution.
Rents, over which the department has no control, are
frequently excessive in relation to the accommodation provided.
318