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
Heston and Isleworth 1959
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Heston and Isleworth]
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PUBLIC CLEANSING. The cleansing of streets and collection and disposal of
refuse are carried out under the control of the Borough Engineer. Refuse is disposed
of by controlled tipping and the collection of house refuse is carried out weekly.
Through the action of the Health Department 40 new dustbins were provided during the
year.
Salvage continues to be collected at the same time as refuse and is segregated before sale. The collection of kitchen waste was discontinued in January, 1954. The
returns for the past five years are as follows:-
| 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper (tons) | 897 | 1,082 | 994 | 1,045 | 1,069 |
| Scrap metal (tons) | 38 | 73 | 26 | 31 | 48 |
| Textiles (tons) | 34 | 13 | 10 | 3 | 5 |
| Bottles, jars (tons) | 4 | 2 | — | - | - |
| Total income | £8,490 | £9,414 | £8,102 | £8,564 | £8,364 |
SANITARY INSPECTION OF THE BOROUGH. In addition to the work recorded in othe
paragraphs of this Report, the Public Health Inspectors continue their general dutie
of investigating complaints, abating nuisances and dealing with contraventions of th
Public Health Acts.
Not all complaints brought to the Health Department deal with matters on whic
the Department is empowered to take action, and in such cases complainants are adr
vised as far as is known, how and where the matter may receive attention. Some particulars
of the work done are shown below:-
Inspections following complaint 1,494
Number of premises at which nuisance, etc. were located 713
Number of premises where nuisances abated or defects
remedied:-
(a) by owners or occupiers 426
(b) by Council in default 3
(c) public sewers repaired by Council 21
(d) public sewers cleared and cleansed by Council 158
Informal notices issued 302
Written reminders issued 369
Statutory notices served 104
Total number of inspections and re-inspections 18,593
Inspections of piggeries 12
Inspections of stables 6
Inspections of urinals 73
Sinks provided or repaired 18
Roofs repaired 113
Gutters repaired or renewed 93
Brickwork, sills, etc. repaired or renewed 261
Premises provided with damp-proof courses 11
Yards and forecourts paved or drained 23
External painting 32
Rooms stripped, cleansed and redecorated 146
Floors, walls and ceilings, repaired or renewed 480
Rooms in which ventilation provided or improved 4
Windows repaired or renewed 376
Doors and other woodwork repaired or renewed 150
Staircases replaced or repaired 9
Lighting to staircases provided or improved 3
Handrails or balusters repaired or renewed 12
Grates provided or repaired 69
Washing coppers provided or repaired 1
Instances where ventilation under floor provided
or improved 16
Food stores provided or repaired 10
Domestic cleansing enforced 2
Verminous condition abated 23
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