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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| Contraventions of Food Hygiene Regulations | Found | Remedied |
|---|---|---|
| Absence of soap, nail brushes, clean towels, etc. near wash-hand basins | 1 | 19 |
| Absence of first aid materials | 2 | 4 |
| Absence of accommodation for clothing not worn during working hours | 2 | 10 |
| Absence of suitable and sufficient sinks for the washing of food and equipment | - | 5 |
| Absence of hot water at a suitably controlled temperature over sink | 2 | 4 |
| Absence of soap, clean cloths etc. at sink | - | 5 |
| Absence of suitable and sufficient lighting in food rooms | 1 | 3 |
| Absence of suitable and sufficient ventilation in food rooms | - | - |
| Walls, floors, etc. not kept clean | 10 | 84 |
| Walls, floors etc. not kept in good order | 9 | 41 |
| Covered receptacle for refuse not provided | 1 | 11 |
| Accumulations of refuse, etc. | 1 | 29 |
| Specified foods not stored at prescribed temperature | 1 | |
| Miscellaneous | 1 | 8 |
| Totals | 54 | 459 |
The numbers of new houses erected in the Borough in recent years is shown
below:-
| 1946-55 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heston and Isleworth B.C. | 1,520 | 20 | 178 | 98 | 12 |
| Brentford and Chiswick B. C. | 34 | 22 | - | 6 | - |
| Southall B. C. | 64 | - | - | - | - |
| Middlesex County Council | 5 | - | - | - | 1 |
| Ministry of civil Aviation | 77 | - | - | - | - |
| Metropolitan Police | 29 | - | - | - | - |
| Prison Commissioners | 18 | - | - | - | - |
| War Department | - | - | - | - | 34 |
| Private Enterprise- | |||||
| (a) new houses | 484 | 172 | 233 | 168 | 279 |
| (b) reconstructed after war destruction | 185 | - | - | - | - |
| (c) housing associations | 340 | 59 | 30 | - | - |
| (d) additional dwellings by conversion | 3 | - | - | - | - |
| 2,759 | 273 | 441 | 272 | 326 |
What action is to be taken concerning unfit houses is governed by the cost
of the necessary works. Unless the house 'is capable at reasonable expense of being
rendered fit action must be in the direction of closing or demolition. Reasonable
expense" has never been defined and with restrictions on rents and the high cost of
repairs its interpretation is far from easy, but the Housing Act, 1957 has now
defined the matters to be taken into consideration in assessing fitness for human
habitation.
The action taken in insanitary and unfit dwelling houses during the year is
summarised in the following return which has been submitted to the Ministry of
Housing and Local Government; -
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