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 1964
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Heston and Isleworth]
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accommodation for clothing; sitting facilities; condition of floors, passages
and stairs; fencing of machinery; first aid equipment, etc. Many of the Regulations
and Orders were not issued till late in the year, so full general inspections
could not be started till November, and only 15 such inspections had been
completed by the end of the year. The Inspectors will also have to be on the
watch for premises which have not been registered.
RAG FLOCK AND OTHER FILLING MATERIALS ACT, 1951. This Act is designed
to ensure that filling materials used in upholstery, etc. comply with prescribed
conditions of cleanliness. Premises using filling materials have to be
registered and premises where rag flock is manufactured or stored have to be
licensed. It is an offence to sell articles containing unclean materials.
Certain records have to be kept on registered and licensed premises and authorised
officers of a local authority have powers to enter, inspect and take samples.
Under this Act, two premises in the Borough are registered and the Public Health
Inspectors made 4 visits of inspection.
SWIMMING BATHS. Three swimming baths are provided by the Council. The size and extent of usage of the three municipal baths are shown below:-
| HOUNSLOW | HE3T0N | ISLEWORTH | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area of bath | major | 75' x 30' | 100' x 48' | 100' x 48' |
| minor | 50' x 25' | - | - | |
| Capacity of bath (gallons) | major | 71,000 | 200, 000 | 200,000 |
| minor | 36, 000 | - | - | |
| Total number of persons using swimming bath in 1964 | 148,356 | 196,245 | 214,187 | |
| Maximum number of persons using swimming bath on any one day | 875 | 2,021 | 1,526 | |
| Number of private baths - | Male | 15 | - | 11 |
| Female | 9 | - | 11 | |
| Number of persons using private baths during 1964 | 29,149 | 17,914 | ||
The baths waters are treated by continuous filtration and breakpoint
chlorination. While baths' staff do everything to maintain a 'safe' standard
of bath water, bathers could assist very materially by the observance of strict
personal hygiene. During the year 8 samples of baths water, and two from a
paddling pool were taken. All were satisfactory.
VERMINOUS PREMISES AND ARTICLES. On request, 15 houses and 3 lots of
bedding, etc. were treated for verminous infestation.
VERMINOUS PERSONS. One verminous person was cleansed under the provisions
of Section 85 of the Public Health Act, 1936. During the year 52 children in
attendance at schools in the Borough were found to be verminous and because of
the failure of parents to take necessary action 4 of these children had to be
cleansed by the School Health Department.
PET ANIMALS ACT, 1951. This Act is designed to regulate the sale of pet
animals and the main provision is that no person shall keep a pet shop except
under the authority of a licence granted in accordance with the provisions of
the Act. Under the provisions of this Act, 7 premises in the Borough have been
licensed and 12 visits of inspection were made during the year.
INSECTION AND SUPERVISION OF FOOD
MILK. At the end of the year, there were 53 distributors registered under
the Milk and Dairies Regulations. During the year 28 inspections were made at
dairies and retail purveyors' premises.
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