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5
in defined circumstances of urgency, to carry out work in default where unreasonable
delay would be occasioned by following the normal procedure of the
Public Health (London) Act, 1936.
Sanitary Inspection Staff. It is with great regret that I once again feel it
my duty to report on the apparently insoluble problem of maintaining the establishment
of sanitary inspection staff. On 1st January, 1955. the working
establishment of 24 sanitary inspectors was complete. During the year seven
officers, including the Smoke Abatement and Factories Inspector, resigned to
take up appointments elsewhere, and there was one death; one appointment was
made in December but at the end of the year there were seven vacancies. In
the current year three inspectors have resigned to take up appointments with
other authorities and there has been one death. Four new appointments have
been made, two on a temporary basis, and the position at the time of writing is
that there are still seven vacancies, a state of affairs which gives much cause
for concern. A factor of paramount importance in this matter is of course the
overall shortage of sanitary inspectors, and it is to be hoped that local
authorities and their organisations will do all in their power to take steps to
improve the present situation. This authority is undoubtedly playing its part
by making provision in its establishment for four pupil inspectors. At the
end of 1955 two pupils were employed, and two more have been taken on in the
current year. This system of pupilage is in my view an excellent investment
because, in addition to increasing ultimately the numbers of inspectors available
nationally, students of the right calibre can be of very real help in a
department in the course of their training
The writing of an Annual Report provides the occasion for the medical
officer of health to acknowledge the assistance and co operation he receives
from the many organisations and individuals with whom the staff of the department
come into daily contact. The general medical practitioners working in
the Borough again co operated most wholeheartedly, as also did the professional
and administrative staffs of the various hospitals Our contacts with the
Divisional Medical Officer of the London County Council and his staff were
again most helpful and cordial. I would also take this opportunity of
expressing our thanks to the many voluntary organisations who work in the field
of health and welfare in the Borough,
The Chief Officers and members of the staffs of other departments of the
Council again gave us every help and assistance throughout the year and I am
most grateful to them, For the staff of the Public Health Department 1955 was
another year of hard work and I wish to record my appreciation of their
services.
To conclude, I am very happy once again to express my best thanks to the
Chairman and Members of the Public Health Committee and to the Members of the
Council individually and collectively for the help and guidance which they one
and all gave to me personally and to the Department at all times throughout the
year.
I am, Mr. Mayor, ladies and gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
JOHN FENTON,
Medical Officer of Health