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REPORT OF THE CHIEF PUBLIC
HEALTH INSPECTOR
INTRODUCTION
This part of the Annual Report deals with the Environmental
Health Service, and shows the efforts which have been made to
maintain a service to the public, despite the upheaval caused by
amalgamation. Initial difficulties were experienced in April, 1965,
in channelling all the records into one basic administrative system
and in applying the new system to the great variety of duties carried
out by the Environmental Health Section. Staff changes and staff
shortages were two factors which had to be, and are still having to be,
overcome and although work was proceeding smoothly by the end
of the year, some of the statistics given show that arrears of work are
accruing.
Much of the work of the Environmental Health Section is uuspectacular
and anonymous in character, but the very nature of the
duties involved bring the staff into close contact with the personal
problems and difficulties of both occupiers and owners of houses and
business premises. It is most necessary, therefore, that good public
relations be maintained, but this is not possible if routine visits are
few and far between, or if prompt attention is not given to requests for
visits to be made, or if made, follow-up procedure is neglected.
It is the endeavour of the Public Health Inspectorate not only
to maintain but to improve the environmental standards in the district
and though the volume and quality of work during the year 1965 has
been good, it is hoped that the staffing situation during the coming
year will improve so that a more complete Environmental Health
Service may be put into operation.
In reviewing the work of the Public Health Inspectorate during
1965 regard has been had to Ministry of Health Circular 1 /66 dated
11th January, 1966. The statistics given are for a complete year (1965)
and the figures for the first three months have been obtained from
records of the Boroughs of Mitcham and Wimbledon and the Urban
District of Merton and Morden.
SERVICES UNDER THE PUBLIC HEALTH ACTS
WATER SUPPLY
The Metropolitan Water Board and the Sutton District Water
Company are responsible for the supply of water to the Borough and
regular periodic examinations are made by these undertakings. Reports
on examinations are also exchanged with adjoining Local Authorities
who are supplied by the Sutton District Water Company.
The supply of water has been satisfactory in both quality and
quantity.
With a few exceptions all the dwelling houses in the London
Borough of Merton are supplied from public water mains direct to
the houses but the actual number of such houses is not available. A
number of industrial premises have an additional supply of water from
their own deep wells. There are seven caravan yards within the
Borough, each with a stand-pipe supplying mains water.
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