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
Surbiton 1944
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Surbiton]
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Included in the aforementioned are the following classified visits:-
| Visits to food premises (including war damage) | 754 |
| Visits to cowsheds, dairies, milkshops and milk vehicles | 37 |
| Visits to bakehouses | 10 |
| Visits to fish friers' premises | 10 |
| Visits to factories | 73 |
| Visits to outworkers premises | 11 |
| Visits re overcrowding | 16 |
| Visits re cases of infectious diseases (including tuberculosis and scabies) | 351 |
| Interviews with owners, tradesmen, etc. | 98 |
| Visits re Pood and Drugs | 213 |
| Visits to Council House applicants | 12 |
| Visits to slaughterhouses | 24 |
| Visits re Shops Acts. | 28 |
In addition to the foregoing 1,865 visits were made in connection
with Civil Defence duties, including billeting, rehousing, war damage
and food treatment squad.
TESTING OP DRAINS AND SANITARY FITTINGS.
| Drains tested with water | 24 |
| Drains tested by other methods | 1 |
NOTICES SERVED.
| Informal and verbal notices | 209 |
| Statutory notices under section 287 of the public Health Act, 1936, to enter premises | 1 |
| Statutory notices under section 93 of the Public Health Act, 1936, to abate nuisance | 2 |
| Statutory notices under section 277 of the Public Health Act, 1936 requiring information as to ownership of premises | 13 |
| Statutory notices under section 39 of the public Health Act, 1936 to repair and cleanse drains | 4 |
| Statutory notices under section 24 of the Public Health Act, 1936 of proposed works of maintenance on public sewer | 48 |
BUILDING LICENCES.
Towards the end of 1943 the Ministry of Health issued Circular 2871
with the object of applying the principle adopted by the Government that
after the demands for war purposes had been met, housing should have the
first call on immobile building labour.
The scheme involved the granting of licences for building works, and
the Town Council decided that the register should be kept and certificates
issued by the Borough Surveyor whilst I was to deal with applications in
respect of
(a) Fork in respect of which a Local Authority issue a statutory
notice for the execution of works of maintenance and repair to
a house under either the Housing or Public Health Acts.
(b) Forks of repair or maintenance which the Local Authority certify
to be essential to avoid danger to health or grave deterioration
of structure.
During 1944 my Department dealt with 34 applications in these
categories.
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