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
Merton and Morden 1954
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Merton & Morden]
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and necessary. Some receive more, others need more, but I
feel one visit all round is the minimal target. Periodic inspections
are required at the following premises as counted at the
end of the yean-
Wholesale Food Manufacturers 1
Bakehouses 9
Food Shops and Catering Establishment 418
Off Licences 19
Public Houses 16
Other Shops 238
Factories (Power) 199
Factories (Non-power) 10
Offices 68
Workplaces, etc. 90
I feel it is incumbent on me to include a note of the extent to which the minimal target was not reached:—
| Number | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Class of Premises | To visit | Not visited | % |
| Factories | 309 | 93 | 45 |
| Food Premises | 418 | 130 | 31 |
| Other Shops | 238 | 88 | 37 |
| Offices and-Workplaces | 158 | 84 | 53 |
HOUSING.
A total of 692 houses were inspected for " sanitary
defects " under the Public Health and Housing Acts. The
main development of the district having occurred in the
" thirties," few major works of repair were needed and
informal action secured the required result in all but 34 cases
where statutory action had to be taken. Legal proceedings
were not necessary in respect of any of these cases. These
692 houses were inspected as a result of complaint by the
tenant or possibly while calling for another purpose, i.e.
Infectious Disease control. It is desirable, however, that a
systematic inspection should be going on by way of house-tohouse
visiting.
Action taken in connection with dwelling houses, as set
out in the housing tables on pages 45 and 46 resulted in the
following improvements:—
30