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 1962

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Merton & Morden]

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SECTION E
REPORT OF THE CHIEF PUBLIC HEALTH INSPECTOR
In reviewing the work of the Public Health Inspectorate during 1962,
I must record that although most items of environmental hygiene were
adequately covered, certain aspects such as food sampling, housing and
chimney observations were unavoidably restricted.
The Council's policy of undertaking the training of student inspectors
achieved its first success when Mr. Willis qualified at his first attempt in
July 1962. He was subsequently appointed to fill the vacant post in the
1949 establishment but before these words were written he had resigned
in April 1963 to take an appointment elsewhere.
Although the number of inspections made during 1962 showed a
decrease of 654 from 7,355 in 1961, the total reached at 6,701 must be
regarded as most satisfactory.

Table: The following table compares the year's totals with those of 1961 under the main headings and while indicating the general scope of the work points out the shift of emphasis between them:—1962 1961

The following table compares the year's totals with those of 1961 under the main headings and while indicating the general scope of the work points out the shift of emphasis between them:—

1962 1961

Food Shops, etc.1,1711,101
Housing—primary visits134176
Housing—re-inspections3937
Housing—overcrowding provisions1441
Housing—miscellaneous84123
Drainage—chokages and repairs8331,337
Rat and Mice destruction311243
Shops—Welfare provisions365482
Infectious Disease enquiries1310
Factories, Workplaces and Outworkers487652
Milk Supply142127
Smoke abatement1,128920
Rivers and Stream pollution4336
Stables and Piggeries1011
Miscellaneous (Caravans, Hairdressers, Schools, Building sites, etc.)1,9272,059
6,7017,355

Table: Periodic inspections are required at the following premises as counted at the end of the year:—

Periodic inspections are required at the following premises as counted at the end of the year:—

Wholesale Food Manufacturers2
Bakehouses6
Food Shops and Catering Establishments646
Public Houses18
Other Shops272
Factories (Power)204
Factories (Non-power)8
Offices, Workplaces, etc271